Lionel Messi was again the difference for Inter Miami, scoring the decisive goal in a 2-1 win at the New England Revolution that put the Herons back in front in the race for second place in the Eastern Conference, according to MLSsoccer.com. Sunday Night Soccer delivered the goods in front of 54,112 fans at Gillette Stadium, and as has so often been the case, Messi was the reason. Second place in the East — and the playoff advantages that come with it — was on the line, and Miami took it.
Messi strikes when it matters
Dániel Gazdag staked the Revs to a 1-0 lead after a swashbuckling run by teenage prodigy Peyton Miller, prompting the traditional volley of celebratory musket fire from the End Zone Militia. Then Germán Berterame responded with an instinctive 69th-minute equalizer. That turned out to be the prelude to yet another clutch Messi moment. With the 2-1 win — saved by a tight offside decision on a Revs equalizer mere moments after Messi’s tally — the Herons have their noses back in front of New England in the race for second.
Golden Boot and a new deal
Messi’s form comes after he signed a new three-year contract with Inter Miami and was awarded the MLS Golden Boot as top scorer in the regular season, according to BBC Sport reporting. The award was presented by league commissioner Don Garber before Messi’s double in a 3-1 win to begin a best-of-three first-round series against Nashville SC. With only three playoff spots left up for grabs and one week to go, the postseason tension is unmistakable. Miami, led by Messi, look like a team peaking at exactly the right time — and that is bad news for everyone else in the East.
Miami’s timing could not be better
Peaking in November is exactly what playoff football demands, and Inter Miami are doing it behind the best player in the league’s history. Messi’s Golden Boot, his new contract and his latest clutch goal all point the same way: Miami believe this is their year. The Eastern Conference race for second place may seem like a small prize, but the home advantage and momentum it brings can decide a playoff run. With one week to go, Miami have the form, the star and the belief — a dangerous combination.
