Inter Miami achieved an important 2-1 victory against the New England Revolution, thanks to a goal from Lionel Messi in the final minutes, to climb to second place in the MLS Eastern Conference, with one day left in the regular season.
The Florida team overcame an adverse score at Gillette Stadium and found its main protagonists in the Argentine and the Mexican Germán Berterame. The victory also allowed them to secure their qualification for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
New England took the lead in the 53rd minute, when Hungarian Daniel Gazdag completed a good combination on the right side and scored inside the area to make it 1-0.
Miami had difficulty generating clear chances for much of the match, but found solutions from the bench with the additions of the Spanish Sergio Reguilón and the Paraguayan Matías Galarza, who contributed to giving greater depth to the attack.
The visitor’s reaction came in the 69th minute. Messi participated in the play with a header pass that Berterame took advantage of to beat goalkeeper Matt Turner with a sharp finish and establish equality.
The Mexican forward thus reached ten goals and ten assists in the 2026 season, establishing himself as one of the important pieces of the team.
When the tie seemed on track, the figure of Messi appeared again. Seven minutes from time, the Argentine captain left several defenders behind and took a left-footed cross shot that beat Turner to seal the final 2-1.
The goal sparked celebration among the fans present in the stadium, many of them wearing the number 10 Inter Miami shirt.
Messi, 39, reached 26 goals this season and remains one of the main candidates for the MLS Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
For his part, Argentine coach Cristian “Kily” González highlighted the commitment of his players and the importance of getting the three points at a decisive moment in the campaign.
«It makes me very happy for the players and the club. “We are in a club that is in continuous growth, I have players committed to us,” said the coach.
The victory left Inter Miami with 59 points, in second position in the Eastern Conference, with its sights set on the close of the regular phase and the next playoffs.
Nashville equals historic record
In another notable result of the day, Nashville SC overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat the New York Red Bulls 3-2 at Geodis Park and reach 74 points.
With that figure, the Tennessee team equaled the record for points in an MLS regular season, established precisely by Inter Miami in 2024, when there is still one date left to play.
“We are the best in the MLS,” said German Hany Mukhtar during the ceremony to present the Supporters’ Shield, a trophy that recognizes the best team in the regular season.
The defeat eliminated the New York Red Bulls from the fight for the playoffs, while Orlando City, Frenchman Antoine Griezmann’s team, at least assured their presence in the playoffs.
The MLS regular season will conclude on November 7 with the traditional Decision Day.
