Forwards Campana, Martinez provide fireworks, Inter Miami ties Crew 2-2 in 90th minute

The excitement keeps building for Lionel Messi’s arrival to Inter Miami in mid-July as murals of the Argentine icon popped up in Wynwood and downtown Miami, and a growing number of fans showed up at DRV PNK Stadium in No. 10 Messi jerseys Tuesday for the game against the Columbus Crew.

Messi’s soon-to-be teammates sent the crowd home happy and hopeful after a thrilling 90^th-minute equalizer sealed a 2-2 tie against the Crew.

Fourth of July fireworks lit up the skies above the Fort Lauderdale coastline Tuesday night and Josef Martinez provided pyrotechnics of his own with a powerful bicycle kick goal off a perfectly placed chip from Leo Campana, who scored Miami’s first goal earlier in the second half.

Martinez had entered the game in the 74^th minute, as interim coach Javi Morales chose to start Campana as the lone forward. Campana had not started in recent weeks, but Morales said he gave the Ecuadorian the nod because he had fresher legs after Martinez played 90 minutes on Saturday.

Campana scored both goals against the Crew when they last played in a 2-1 Miami win in late April, and he punished Columbus again. Three of Campana’s four goals this season were against the Crew.

“For any player it is not easy to be on the bench,” Campana said. “I took it the best I could. My teammates knew I would help on or off the field. It hurt, of course, because I know what I am capable of, and I know my place is on the field. (Tuesday) I showed I belong there and can help the team.”

Campana added that he believes he and Martinez form a good partnership, and he hopes they can play together more in the future.

“Josef and I have a great relationship, on and off the field,” Campana said. “When he plays, I support him, and he supports me when I play. I think we complement each other very well. The times we played together, when Phil (Neville, the former coach) was here, as the games went on we had been playing well together, and I think we showed (Tuesday) that when one of us leaves the area, the other enters, which makes the job easier for a forward. I hope this can be the start of something good between us.”

Inter Miami, which had not recorded a tie all season, now has two in a row, but the team’s winless streak stretched to nine games. Miami remains in last place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-13-2 record, nine points short of the playoff line with 14 games remaining.

The MLS summer transfer window opens Wednesday, paving the way for the arrivals of Messi and Sergio Busquets, and other roster changes yet to be announced. Inter Miami Mexican midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro, who makes $3.5 million, is expected to be traded or bought out. A league source said the L.A. Galaxy is interested and he might end up there.

Newly hired Inter Miami coach Tata Martino, awaiting his work visa, watched the team from a stadium video booth for the second game in a row. Team officials are hoping Martino is cleared to begin coaching in time for the road game Saturday against D.C. United or the following game at St. Louis.

The Crew entered the game as one of the hottest teams in the league with an MLS-best 40 goals and riding a six-game unbeaten streak. Columbus set the tempo early and had Miami on its heels for much of the first half.

Columbus took the lead in the 23^rd minute on a cracker of a shot from an unmarked Darlington Nagbe, who knocked in a strong volley from just outside the box after Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender punched out a curling corner kick.

Nagbe, wearing a huge smile, was enveloped by his teammates while the pink-clad Miami players hung their heads. Miami trailed 1-0 at halftime after taking just two shots, one on goal.

Campana tied it up in the 57^th minute with a leaping header off a corner kick from Robert Taylor. The crowd of 14,072 erupted.

Just when Inter Miami fans were getting excited, the Crew re-claimed the lead in the 69th minute. Cucho Hernandez sent a low cross to the back post and found a sliding Christian Ramirez, who slipped it past Callender.

“We knew this would be a very tough game, Columbus on the ball can give you a lot of problems,” Campana said. “We managed them the best we could. We had the right attitude and were able to get an important point.”

Asked how he feels knowing that in a few weeks he will be playing alongside Messi, Campana’s face lit up. He said: “It’s a dream. All of us grew up watching him play. I would sneak away from school to watch him play in Champions League. We don’t know when he’s going to get here, but we are very excited and enthusiastic to receive the best player in the world, the best in history. My hairs stand on end just talking about it. We await him and I am sure he will enjoy very much the team, the city and we will accomplish big things together.”