Messi flips the script as Inter Miami stuns New England Revolution 1-2

Gillette Stadium had everything set up for a New England Revolution party, but it turned into another Lionel Messi night instead. Inter Miami CF pulled out a 1-2 win in a match that looked all but sealed for the home side until, in the span of just 14 minutes, the Florida club turned the scoreline on its head with a goal from Germán Berterame and another from Messi himself.

The first half was back and forth with no goals, with the Revolution generating more volume of play (seven corners to Inter Miami's one) but unable to break through. Carles Gil was the main orchestrator for the home side, setting up several dangerous chances, while Messi gave a glimpse of what was coming with a shot from outside the box that was saved late in the first half.

A home lead that didn't last

The second half opened with the Revolution pushing forward, and the payoff came in the 52nd minute: Dániel Gazdag finished with his right foot from the center of the box, set up by Ilay Feingold, to make it 1-0 and send Gillette Stadium into a frenzy.

But Inter Miami wasted no time answering back. In the 68th minute, Germán Berterame connected on a header from the center of the box off a Messi assist to level the score. Fourteen minutes later, in the 82nd, came the play that decided the match: Messi, set up by Telasco Segovia, finished left-footed from the center of the box to make it a final 1-2.

There were still some nervy moments late on: in the 86th minute, an Ian Fray own goal appeared to have tied things up for the Revolution, but a VAR review two minutes later overturned the call and confirmed there was no goal, leaving the final score at 1-2 for Inter Miami.

What the numbers say

The Revolution controlled more possession and created more corner-kick chances, but Inter Miami was sharper in the final third, doubling New England's shots on target.

Based on our post-match xG estimate calculated from the shots taken, Inter Miami generated 2.25 expected goals to the Revolution's 1.73, a gap that ends up matching what happened on the field fairly well: despite seeing less of the ball, Cristian González's side were more clinical when it mattered.

The projection we published before kickoff gave Inter Miami a 43% chance of winning, against 34% for the Revolution and 23% for a draw, with a total expected goals count of 3.87 (2.05 for the visitors and 1.81 for the home side). The final result, a 1-2 scoreline with three total goals, ended up lining up fairly well with that forecast, though the path there came with the added twist of a second-half comeback.

What it means in the standings

In the Eastern Conference, Inter Miami CF moves to 59 points while New England Revolution sits at 58, a gap of just 1 point between the two sides in the table. Neither team is far from Nashville SC, who lead the group with 74 points, but this win lets Inter Miami gain ground on a direct rival in the race for the top spots in MLS.