The dramatic ending of Inter Miami against Cincinnati, with an unusual disallowed goal, which Lionel Messi watched from the sidelines full of tension

Inter Miami, with Lionel Messi (suspended) and Rodrigo de Paul watching from one of the Chase Stadium boxes, drew 0-0 with FC Cincinnati , improving on the performance they left ten days ago when the same team thrashed them 3-0. It was a game without much excitement until one of the final plays, when the biggest controversy of the night arose.

It was the second minute of the two minutes initially added by referee Tori Penso when a cross-field pass fell into Javier Mascherano 's box. It was Brazilian Evander who took the free kick and Miles Robinson headed it home, beating Noah Allen in the air and leaping forward to celebrate the agonizing winner. However, the goal was disallowed for a foul, raising many questions.

Replays of the action show that Allen didn't jump, but was destabilized while trying to chase the ball, and that Robinson legitimately won the position. It was expected that the VAR officials would call the referee and correct the initial decision, thus validating FC Cincinnati's goal. But none of that happened, and the score remained 0-0 until the end.

As the VAR's decision dragged on and drama gripped Fort Lauderdale, cameras followed Messi's reaction, as he leaned out of his seat like a regular fan, trying to stop the referees from intervening.

GOAL DISMISSED! 😱🤔 After a marathon VAR review, FC Cincinnati's last-minute goal against Inter Miami doesn't count. #MLSenFOX pic.twitter.com/8lX9dsGcWA

— FOX Deportes (@FOXDeportes) July 27, 2025

It wasn't the only controversial play on the night in Fort Lauderdale. Inter Miami also claimed a penalty (it didn't seem like it), and Javier Mascherano was the most vocal in his protests, which included a tense face-to-face with the referee , who ended up booking him.

Javier Mascherano believes it's strange that his team hasn't conceded a single penalty in 22 matchdays.

He received a yellow card today and was very frustrated with Tori Pensó. #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/LWyWk1qlZ2

— José Armando (@Jarm21) July 27, 2025

Thus, Inter Miami remains in a strong position in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference . They are fifth with 42 points, eight behind the leader, the Philadelphia Union, and have three games in hand. They have missed matches to play during the Club World Cup and could become the sole leader if they win those matches.