Inter Miami and Chicago Fire played out a 1-1 draw at Soldier Field on Wednesday night, with a record 63,094 fans watching the star-studded MLS encounter.

Robert Lewandowski gave Chicago the lead with an acrobatic finish before Casemiro headed Inter Miami level after the interval from a Lionel Messi corner.

The result brought together several players with significant European experience, with Messi, Lewandowski and Casemiro all taking centre stage in front of Chicago’s biggest-ever home crowd.

Record crowd turns out for MLS showdown

Soldier Field was packed for one of the most anticipated matches on Chicago Fire’s schedule, with 63,094 supporters attending the game.

The attendance established a new home record for Chicago Fire, surpassing the previous mark set when the same fixture was played last season.

The presence of Messi and Lewandowski added to the occasion, while Casemiro also featured as the match brought together players who have spent years competing at the highest level of European football.

The large turnout provided a striking backdrop to a closely contested game that ended without a winner.

Lewandowski puts Chicago ahead

Chicago Fire made the stronger start when Lewandowski opened the scoring in the 10th minute.

The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona striker produced an acrobatic finish to beat the Inter Miami defence and send the home supporters into celebration.

It was an early reward for Chicago and left Inter Miami needing to find a response against a home side backed by a record crowd.

Casemiro restores parity after Messi corner

Inter Miami responded after half-time and eventually found their equaliser through another experienced former European star.

Casemiro rose highest to meet a corner delivered by Messi and powered his header into the net.

The goal brought Inter Miami back into the contest and highlighted the quality available to the visitors, with Messi providing the set-piece delivery for the Brazilian midfielder.

Neither side was able to find a second goal, leaving the two teams to share the points after an entertaining encounter.

Messi adds another MLS milestone

The match also provided another notable moment in Messi’s MLS career.

The Argentine superstar secured his place in MLS history with another milestone during the contest, adding to the list of achievements he has collected since arriving in the league.

Messi was also directly involved in Inter Miami’s equaliser, supplying the corner from which Casemiro headed home.

A memorable night at Soldier Field

The 1-1 draw delivered a memorable occasion for Chicago Fire, both because of the result and the record attendance.

Lewandowski gave the hosts an early advantage, but Inter Miami recovered after the break through Casemiro’s header.

With Messi, Lewandowski and Casemiro all involved, the match lived up to the attention surrounding it and showcased the appeal of major-name players competing in MLS.

SportsLigue