Gonzalo Higuain scored a goal Tuesday — and Wednesday — in the same match to help Inter Miami keep their playoff hopes alive with a 2-1 victory against the Columbus Crew in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Higuain gave Miami (11-13-6, 39 points) the lead in the 25th minute before Cucho Hernandez tied it for the Crew (9-7-14, 41 points) in the 41st minute. After weather delayed the start of the second half for nearly 2 1/2 hours, Higuain put Miami ahead in the 82nd minute.
The game ended at 12:25 a.m. ET.
Miami moved to within two points of the Crew for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with four matches left thanks to Higuain, who has scored 10 of his 12 goals this season in the past 13 games.
He took a through ball from Alejandro Pozuelo and scored from a difficult angle on the left side of the box for the winner.
In the 94th minute, Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender pushed a shot by Lucas Zelarayan over the bar to preserve the win.
The Crew had a seven-game unbeaten streak end (2-0-5) and lost for the first time in nine road games after three wins and five ties.
Goal scorers find the back of the net, and that’s what happened in the first half. Higuain put his team on the board early, scoring on the break with Ariel Lassiter. Coming down the right flank with only one defender back, Lassiter passed to his left to put Higuain in perfect position for the 1-0 lead.
Steven Moreira was involved in the tying goal that gave Hernandez his first goal in five games.
Moreira sent a cross to the top of the goal box where Hernandez headed the ball down and into the net. He has nine goals in 14 games since joining the Crew in July from England’s Watford FC.
Moreira earned his eighth assist to lead MLS defenders. He also tied Ansil Elcock’s 1998 Crew record for assists by a defender.
–Field Level Media
