Lionel Messi bagged a brace to lead Inter Miami to a 4-1 victory over New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium Saturday night.
The visiting Herons were looking to stay at the summit of the Eastern Conference table by winning their third straight game, while New England were aiming to win just their second game of the 2024 MLS season.
It couldn’t have been a better start for the Revs, who went ahead in the first minute after a series of disasterous events for the Miami defense. Nicolas Freire’s stray pass was intercepted in the middle of the field by Carles Gil, and the former Aston Villa midfielder played Tomas Chancalay through on goal with a simple over-the-top pass that caught the Miami defense sleeping.
Chancalay’s first touch saw him go up-and-over Callender with a clever chipped effort that sent the fans at Gillette Stadium into pure chaos, leaving the visitors stunned.
Despite the sluggish start from Miami, they managed to find their way back into the game through none other than the legendary Messi. Marcelo ‘Chelo’ Weigandt picked out an unmarked Robert Taylor in the middle of the park, and the Finland international — who was making his first appearance since April 3 due to injury — hit a first-time pass that was deflected back into his path before he played Messi through on goal, slicing the Revs defense open.
The eight time Ballon d’Or winner found the back of the net with a low-driven effort to score his eighth goal of the regular season and even things up at one apiece with just over 30 minutes played.
The 65,000-plus fans in attendance saw Miami’s No. 10 grab his second of the night just before the 70th minute to put the Herons in front and turn the game around. Sergio Busquets picked out Messi’s sneaky run — not one Revs defender decided to track his run through the backline — with a simple through ball that was similar to Miami’s first goal. Messi, of course, made no mistake in front of goal to secure the brace.
Miami wrapped up all three points with just minutes left in regulation thanks to a tap-in finish from the young Benjamin Cremaschi. Two Miami substitutes connected on the Herons’ third goal of the night, as Matias Rojas — in his first appearance as a Miami player — teed up Messi from right in front of goal, but the former Barcelona player’s shot was blocked by Henrich Ravas before Cremaschi slotted it home from just a few yards out.
Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino’s side weren’t finished scoring, though. Cremaschi played his part…
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