Lionel Messi scored an 83rd-minute winner as Inter Miami beat the New England Revolution 2-1 on Monday, moving above their opponents into second place in the MLS Eastern Conference with one regular-season match remaining.
The Argentine also assisted German Berterame’s 69th-minute equaliser, helping Miami end a two-match winless run and secure a crucial victory in the race for playoff seeding.
The result lifted Inter Miami to 59 points, one ahead of New England, who remain on 58 after their four-match winning streak came to an end.
New England took the lead eight minutes into the second half. Peyton Miller beat Gonzalo Lujan on the right before cutting the ball back into the penalty area. Ilay Feingold added a backheel to set up Daniel Gazdag, who struck first time from eight yards.
Miami responded through Messi and Berterame. In the 65th minute, Messi forced goalkeeper Matt Turner into a diving save, while Brooklyn Raines cleared Berterame’s rebound off the line.
Four minutes later, the visitors were level. Telasco Segovia delivered a lofted pass into the area, and Messi kept the ball alive with a header across goal. Berterame arrived to power a downward finish beyond Turner.
Messi then produced the decisive moment seven minutes from time. He collected a loose ball around 30 yards from goal and weaved past several defenders before Segovia helped keep the move alive. The Argentine finished clinically into the bottom-left corner for his league-leading 26th goal of the season.
New England thought they had equalised in the 87th minute after an apparent own goal, but a video review ruled Luca Langoni offside and the effort was disallowed.
The defeat also ended New England’s run of avoiding losses after going ahead or being level in the final 15 minutes of a match this season.
Miami now have the advantage over New England in the Eastern Conference standings heading into the final round of the regular season.
