Inter Miami produced a superb second-half comeback to defeat the New England Revolution by a 2–1 scoreline in their Major League Soccer matchday (33) encounter. Lionel Messi delivered a goal and an assist to secure three crucial points and qualification for the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The opening 45 minutes were closely contested, with New England showing good organisation and attacking intent. Inter Miami’s best opportunity came in the 28th minute when Germán Berterame tested goalkeeper Matt Turner with a left-footed effort. Turner produced an excellent save to preserve the scores.
New England also threatened through Brooklyn Raines, whose effort went over the crossbar following good work from Peyton Miller. Both sides couldn’t find the breakthrough at the interval and had to settle for a 0-0 stalemate at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
Back from the recess, both sides stepped up their game and went in search for goals. The breakthrough finally arrived on the 53rd when Daniel Gazdag combined with Ilay Feingold, who set up the Hungarian midfielder to finish off a brilliant team goal to put New England Revolution into the lead.
Inter Miami manager Killy Gonzalez responded by tweaking his team’s formation from 4-3-3 to a more attacking 4-2-4, giving Lionel Messi the freedom to play in the free role position. That tactical adjustment proved very effective as Messi provided an assist for strike partner Berterame to poke home the equaliser on the 69th minute. With the game deadlocked at 1-1, Inter Miami went in search for the match winner, and the breakthrough arrived on the 83rd minute.
Messi dropped deep into midfield, picked up the ball, jinxed past defenders, weaved his way through a forest of legs, exchanged passes with Sergovia before unleashing a brilliant grounder to beat Turner in posts to put Miami 2-1 up. That move shows the Argentine superstar at his brilliant best.
Inter Miami held firm to see out the remainder of the game to pick maximum points and seal qualification for the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup on the day.
In other games, Nashville FC beat New York Red Bulls by 3-2 scoreline, Vancouver Whitecaps 5-1 Seattle Sounders, Atlanta United beat Toronto FC 3-1, Los Angeles beat Minnesota United 1-3, and Portland Timbers 3-1 Houston Dynamo.
Written by: Agboyibor Hope Francis
