Inter Miami 4–1 New England Revolution

By Alonso Contreras

Fort Lauderdale, FL – Inter Miami CF returned to their flowing best on a humid evening at Chase Stadium, dismantling the New England Revolution 4–1 in front of a packed crowd that witnessed a masterclass from Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba. The Argentine veteran and the Spanish full-back rolled back the years, combining for two of Miami’s four goals and setting the tempo for a second-half surge that overwhelmed the visitors.

First Half: Miami’s Left Flank Dominates

Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s side entered the match with confidence after a recent unbeaten streak, but they were made to work early on as the Revolution pressed aggressively. The visitors nearly took a shocking lead in the 9th minute when Brandon Bye struck the crossbar with a powerful header from close range after a precise cross by Carles Gil a warning sign that momentarily unsettled the home side.

After that scare, Miami settled into possession, with Sergio Busquets orchestrating from deep and Rodrigo De Paul providing balance in midfield. The link-up play between Messi, Jordi Alba, and Tadeo Allende down the left started to cause persistent trouble for New England’s backline.

Messi came close multiple times testing Matt Turner with curling efforts in the 14th and 24th minutes but it was Tadeo Allende who finally broke the deadlock. In the 32nd minute, a fluid attacking sequence saw Messi drift centrally, slip a pass into Alba’s overlapping run, and the Spaniard cut it back for Allende. The Argentine striker finished calmly with his left foot from the center of the box (xG 0.29), sending the stadium into raptures.

The goal opened up the game, and Miami began dictating tempo. New England struggled to regain composure, resorting to tactical fouls including a booking for Brayan Ceballos at the 29-minute mark.

Just before halftime, Miami doubled their lead, once again through the chemistry of Alba and Messi. Deep into stoppage time (45’+3), Messi threaded a through ball between two defenders, and Alba, arriving perfectly, slotted a low left-footed shot to the far corner (xG 0.59). It was vintage Barcelona magic recreated in MLS pink, and it gave Miami a comfortable 2–0 cushion heading into the interval.

Second Half: Brief Hope for New England Before Miami Take Over

The Revolution made two changes at halftime Luca Langoni and Alhassan Yusuf came on to inject pace and aggression and for a few moments, it worked. They pulled one back through Dor Turgeman in the 59th minute, a superb right-footed strike from outside the box (xG 0.10) after being teed up by Carles Gil. The goal briefly shifted momentum, and with Miami’s backline stepping higher, there was a sense of vulnerability.

However, any hope for a comeback evaporated within a minute. Miami responded instantly and devastatingly through another moment of brilliance from Messi. In the 60th minute, the captain drove forward, attracted two defenders, and slipped a perfectly weighted pass to Allende, who finished clinically for his second of the night (xG 0.45).

From 2–1 to 3–1 in less than sixty seconds Miami had slammed the door shut on New England’s rally.

Three minutes later, the hosts put the match beyond reach. Substitute Telasco Segovia, who had just entered the field for Baltasar Rodríguez, found Jordi Alba inside the penalty area. The Spaniard’s left-footed finish into the bottom right corner (xG 0.28) made it 4–1, completing his brace and capping a night of pure dominance for Miami’s attacking unit.

Final Minutes: Frustration for the Revolution

The final twenty minutes saw New England chasing shadows. Carles Gil and Tomás Chancalay tried to salvage some pride, forcing several saves from Rocco Ríos Novo, who showed composure when called upon. Chancalay’s headers in the 74th and 86th minutes were both stopped by the Argentine goalkeeper, while Langoni’s late effort was blocked by Ian Fray.

Defensively, Miami managed the game well, even as Rodrigo De Paul and Maximiliano Falcón picked up yellow cards for late challenges. Martino used his bench efficiently giving minutes to youngsters like Yannick Bright and Gonzalo Luján in the closing stages.

Despite late corners and long-range attempts, the Revolution never truly threatened to close the gap. The match concluded 4–1, a scoreline that reflected Miami’s precision, control, and the rekindled chemistry of their veteran stars.

Tactical Breakdown

Miami’s 4-3-3 shape was fluid, with Messi dropping deep to link play and Allende often drifting centrally to create a diamond with De Paul and Busquets. This created overloads that allowed Jordi Alba to exploit space on the overlap, where he delivered constant width and two decisive finishes.

New England, meanwhile, struggled to contain Miami’s rotations. Their 4-2-3-1 structure often left Matt Polster and Yusuf exposed against Messi’s movement. Even with Carles Gil attempting to carry transitions forward, the lack of pace in defensive recovery made them vulnerable once Miami broke the press.

Ríos Novo’s distribution from the back also played a role in bypassing New England’s first line, allowing Miami to establish quick passing sequences that repeatedly advanced them into the final third.

Standout Performers

• Lionel Messi – 2 assists, 7 key passes, constant influence in transition and buildup.

• Jordi Alba – 2 goals, relentless overlapping runs, and veteran leadership.

• Tadeo Allende – 2 goals, tireless pressing, excellent movement off the shoulder.

• Rocco Ríos Novo – Key saves in the second half, commanding presence.

• Carles Gil (NE) – Only bright spot for the visitors, providing an assist and consistent creativity.

Conclusion

Inter Miami’s 4–1 triumph was not only a statement of their attacking depth but also a reminder of the timeless understanding between Messi and Alba. Their interplay dismantled New England’s structure, while Allende’s finishing added a clinical edge that Miami has sometimes lacked this season.

The Revolution, competitive in stretches, were undone by their inability to contain Miami’s combinations and their defensive transitions. As the whistle blew, the fans in Fort Lauderdale knew they had witnessed not just a victory but a performance that encapsulated the best of what this Miami side can offer: experience, artistry, and efficiency.