Inter Miami CF 4 – 1 New York Red Bulls

By Alonso Contreras

In an exhilarating encounter at DRV PNK Stadium, Inter Miami CF continued their strong form with a commanding 4-1 win over the New York Red Bulls. Goals from Fafà Picault, Marcelo Weigandt, Luis Suárez, and Lionel Messi capped off a dominant attacking display, while Mohammed Sofo provided the only glimmer of hope for the visitors.

First Half Summary: Miami Dominate Early

From the opening whistle, Inter Miami CF set the tempo. Luis Suárez nearly opened the scoring in the 9th minute with a header from close range, moments after Tadeo Allende’s shot had been blocked inside the box. But the breakthrough came seconds later when Fafà Picault finished a fluid team move with a right-footed shot into the top left corner, following excellent combination play between Suárez and Marcelo Weigandt.

By the 30th minute, Inter Miami had doubled their lead. Marcelo Weigandt—having just had a powerful header saved by Carlos Coronel—followed up with a composed right-footed finish from the rebound into the bottom left corner to make it 2-0.

New York Red Bulls, reeling from the early blows, tried to mount a response. Felipe Carballo and Wikelman Carmona saw their efforts from outside the box denied by a solid Inter Miami defensive line. The pressure on the Red Bulls intensified as Messi orchestrated play from deep, drifting wide and cutting inside, probing gaps between the lines.

The hosts struck again in the 39th minute when Luis Suárez showed his class. After his initial effort was blocked, he reacted quickest to bury the rebound with his left foot, making it 3-0.

Despite being outplayed, the Red Bulls pulled one back against the run of play in the 43rd minute. Mohammed Sofo rose highest to meet Omar Valencia’s corner with a powerful header that left Oscar Ustari no chance. The goal brought some life back to the visitors heading into halftime, which arrived with the scoreline reading 3-1.

Second Half: Miami Seals It, Messi Inevitable

Inter Miami made a halftime substitution, with Telasco Segovia replacing Tadeo Allende. The tempo slightly dropped after the break, but Miami still created the better chances.

The Red Bulls looked more composed initially, with Omar Valencia and Peter Stroud both trying their luck from distance. Stroud’s right-footed attempt from outside the box missed narrowly.

Messi had two chances in quick succession around the hour mark. One of his attempts, a left-footed drive from just outside the D, was blocked by Noah Eile. The other, minutes later, required a diving save from Carlos Coronel.

In the 67th minute, the Red Bulls' hopes were crushed when Lionel Messi delivered a signature moment. Telasco Segovia, who had been influential since his introduction, slipped in Messi with a delicate pass. The Argentine maestro danced into the box and calmly slotted a left-footed finish into the upper left zone, restoring Inter Miami’s three-goal cushion at 4-1.

The final 20 minutes saw a flurry of substitutions and a few half-chances. Julian Hall’s 81st-minute shot for New York was bravely blocked by Maximiliano Falcón, while Messi attempted another spectacular effort from range in the 82nd minute that whistled just over the crossbar.

Carlos Coronel remained busy late on, denying Messi again with a low save after a driven effort from outside the area (90’). In the dying moments (90’+3), New York had a final corner taken by Valencia, but it posed no danger.

Key Player Performances

• Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)1 Goal, 6 Shots, 3 On Target, 1 Assist, 3 Key PassesAs expected, Messi was the heartbeat of Miami’s attack. His goal in the 67th minute was world-class, and he constantly troubled the Red Bulls' defense with clever movement and incisive passing.

• Luis Suárez (Inter Miami CF)1 Goal, 1 Assist, 4 ShotsA tireless presence in the box. His goal and assist were clinical, and his partnership with Messi and Picault showed real chemistry.

• Marcelo Weigandt (Inter Miami CF)1 Goal, 1 Assist (Second assist), 1 Key BlockA standout performer from full-back, Weigandt contributed on both ends with a goal, an assist, and defensive solidity.

• Omar Valencia (New York Red Bulls)2 Corners Leading to Chances, 1 AssistThough on the losing side, Valencia’s deliveries were New York’s most reliable source of threat. Assisted Sofo’s goal with pinpoint accuracy.

Statistical Snapshot

Category	Inter Miami CF	New York Red Bulls
Goals	4	1
Shots (On Target)	16 (7)	11 (3)
Possession %	61%	39%
xG (Expected Goals)	2.10	1.25
Corners	4	7
Fouls Committed	13	18
Yellow Cards	1	2

Substitutions Summary

• Inter Miami CF

  • Segovia ↔ Allende (HT)

  • Cremaschi ↔ Suárez (58’)

  • Falcón ↔ Weigandt (58’)

  • Obando ↔ Picault (73’)

  • Redondo ↔ Bright (77’)

• New York Red Bulls

  • Gjengaar ↔ Carmona (63’)

  • Donkor ↔ Stroud (63’)

  • Hall ↔ Sofo (70’)

  • Edwards ↔ Forsberg (76’)

  • Bogacz ↔ Choupo-Moting (76’)

Disciplinary Record

• Yannick Bright (MIA) – Yellow Card (14')

• Peter Stroud (RBNY) – Yellow Card (52')

• Sean Nealis (RBNY) – Yellow Card (75')

Final Thoughts

Inter Miami delivered a commanding performance, blending star power with collective discipline. Messi and Suárez continue to be decisive, while young talents like Telasco Segovia are stepping up. The Red Bulls, though spirited in patches, lacked defensive organization and were repeatedly undone by Miami's intricate buildup and ruthless finishing.