Introduction
Inter Miami’s Dominant Response as Messi Orchestrates 4-1 Victory Over New England Revolution By a BBC Sport Correspondent
Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida Inter Miami CF delivered a powerful statement of intent in the MLS Eastern Conference playoff race, securing a commanding 4-1 victory over the New England Revolution at Chase Stadium on Saturday night. The win, which snaps a two-match winless skid for the Florida side, was masterminded by captain Lionel Messi, who did not score but registered a trio of decisive assists, dictating play and providing the creative spark for the host team’s attack. The result lifts Miami into third place in the Eastern Conference standings, solidifying their position ahead of the final weeks of the regular season. For the Revolution, who are already eliminated from playoff contention, the defeat marked a disappointing end to their road schedule for the 2025 campaign. Messi’s Orchestration Secures Crucial Points While the focus often remains on his goalscoring, the fixture underscored Messi’s enduring influence as a world-class playmaker. The Argentine forward, operating just behind the two strikers, was instrumental in setting up three of Miami's four goals, bringing his total regular season goal contributions to 40—a leading tally across the league. Miami’s offensive surge was powered by braces from two key attacking components: midfielder Tadeo Allende and veteran defender Jordi Alba. Allende opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, receiving a perfectly weighted pass from Messi before slotting a low shot past Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner. Just before the halftime whistle, Messi pounced on a defensive turnover high up the pitch, quickly slipping the ball to Alba, who doubled the lead for Miami in first-half stoppage time.
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The goals were a display of clinical finishing but, crucially, highlighted the tactical cohesion restored to Javier Mascherano’s side following a difficult run of form, including a heavy 5-3 loss earlier in the week. Revolution’s Brief Hope Quashed by Instant Rebuttal The New England Revolution, under Interim Head Coach Pablo Moreira, showed resilience and momentarily threatened a comeback in the second half. Following halftime substitutions, the visitors pulled a goal back in the 59th minute through newcomer Dor Turgeman. The 21-year-old Israeli striker, making his first MLS start, collected a pass from captain Carles Gil and unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box that flew past Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo, who was starting in place of the usual No. 1, Oscar Ustari. Turgeman's goal was historic, marking him as the first player in Revolution history to score in each of his first two MLS appearances, and injected palpable tension into the game. However, the momentum shift was brutally short-lived. Inter Miami delivered an immediate and decisive rebuttal, scoring barely a minute after the ensuing kickoff. Again, Messi was the architect, driving a counter-attack that culminated in Allende scoring his second goal of the night, restoring the two-goal cushion at 3-1.
Three minutes later, Jordi Alba completed his own brace, combining with substitute Telasco Segovia to net Miami’s fourth and final goal in the 63rd minute, effectively sealing the match. The swift nature of Miami’s response drew attention from analysts covering the league. Speaking after the game, former MLS player and current pundit Aly Trost suggested that the immediate reaction was evidence of Mascherano’s influence on the squad’s mentality. “To concede and then score in the space of 60 seconds is a hallmark of a mature, top-level team,” Trost stated. “New England fought hard, particularly through Gil and Turgeman, but that quick counter-punch from Miami was the point of no return. It shows that even when Messi isn’t putting the ball in the net, his presence alone forces defensive concentration that opens up space for Allende and Alba. ” Strategic Context and Playoff Outlook For Inter Miami, the victory was paramount. They now sit on 59 points, three points behind second-place FC Cincinnati, keeping the pressure on for a higher seed in the forthcoming Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. The win also vindicated Mascherano’s decision to rotate his goalkeepers, giving Ríos Novo the start following a demanding schedule.
In contrast, the New England Revolution’s attention will now turn to the close of their disappointing season. Despite their overall struggles, the performance of individuals like Turgeman and the consistently influential Carles Gil provides a potential foundation for next year’s rebuild. Interim coach Pablo Moreira noted the challenge of competing against world-class opposition. “We executed our game plan for periods, and the 2-1 goal was a real moment of quality, but against a side like Inter Miami, you must be perfect for 90 minutes,” Moreira commented. “The speed at which they transitioned after our goal was something we simply couldn’t contain, and that is where the clinical quality of their veteran players really shone through. ” Both clubs now face the October FIFA international window, with several key players, including USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner (New England) and several Miami internationals, departing for national team duty. Miami’s final match will be critical for determining their ultimate seeding, while New England looks forward to their Decision Day fixture to conclude their 2025 campaign at home. The dominant performance by Inter Miami suggests they are finding their rhythm at the crucial moment, proving they are capable of securing results even when their star captain focuses purely on creation.
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