Chase Stadium- Inter Miami CF made history on Saturday breaking the MLS Points Record with a win over the former record holders, the New England Revolution. Miami reached 74 points with the victory, one more than New England’s former record of 73 set in their 2021 campaign. The Revs came out on fire taking an early two-goal lead over Miami only to see the Herons storm back to tie 2-2 going into the half. The second half was all Inter Miami as they crushed NE 6-2 behind a vintage Lionel Messi performance.
No #MLS team has ever had a better regular season than #InterMiamiCF… Now it’s on to the #MLSCup, the real objective…#Messi pic.twitter.com/DsEKtqeBQa
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 20, 2024
Starting XI
The Herons began the match in a 4-3-3 formation with Drake Callender in goal; Weigandt, Aviles, Martinez, and Alba were the four on the backline. The midfield three were Busquets, Bright, and Cremaschi. Taylor, Suarez, & Gressel were on the attacking frontline.
Lionel #Messi will come off the bench 🆚 NE Revs while David Martinez finds his way back into the Starting XI just in time to possibly break the #MLS points record…#InterMiamiCF has a chance to break the Revs record with a win @chase_stadium today… pic.twitter.com/5blZmPrRu9
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 19, 2024
Match Action
New England came to Chase Stadium determined to defend their MLS points record and wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with a Luca Langoni shot past Drake Callender less than two minutes into the match. Luis Suarez’s errant pass and David Martinez’s defensive miscue led to the score.
NE Revs come out on fire 🔥 with Langoni putting the visitors on top 0-1 less than two minutes into the match…
A Suarez turnover & a Martinez miscue on defense allow the early score…#InterMiamiCF #MLS— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 19, 2024
The Revs were ready to spoil Miami’s Supporters’ Shield celebration and to prevent them from breaking the single-season points record in front of their home crowd. Dylan Borrero’s weak poke in front of goal went through Callender’s legs in the 34th minute to give the Revs the surprising 0-2 lead.
New England 🏴 Revolution go on top 0-2 on a mistake by goalie Drake Callender who lets an easy ball ⚽️ go through his legs…#InterMiamiCF #MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 20, 2024
The Miami fans were stunned and silent as the Revs looked poised to ruin the team’s planned Supporters’ Shield celebration after the match. Then, Luis Suarez showed why he is one of the greatest strikers of his generation. David Martinez made an impressive run forward which ended with a sly pass to Luis Suarez, who then finished with a lovely strike.
Luis “El Pistolero” Suarez places the ball in the back of the net after a phenomenal David Martinez run forward…1-2 #InterMiamiCF is back in the match & so are the fans…#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 19, 2024
Suarez was getting warmed up, and just three minutes later he scored again in a splendid individual play. He controlled a pass, dribbled towards his left, cut to his right, and blasted a low shot for the 2-2 score.
LUIS SUAREZ is a menace! A splendid individual play ties the match up 2-2 … #InterMiamiCF is back in control…#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 19, 2024
The Herons went into halftime tied 2-2, but the momentum had shifted in Miami’s favor.
An unexpected start to the match with NE Revs taking the 0-2 lead & then #InterMiamiCF storming back behind a Luis Suarez brace for the 2-2 score line at the half…Will we see Lionel #Messi in the second half…#MLS #Messi pic.twitter.com/wrMIMS63YA
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 19, 2024
Luis Suarez was great in the first half for Miami, but Lionel Messi was greater in the second half. The legendary footballer entered the match in the 58th minute and immediately changed the game. It took him only a few seconds to find Jordi Alba with a superb pass who then made the easy cross into the box for the finish by a charging Benjamin Cremaschi. Inter Miami went up on the scoreboard 3-2 and never looked back.
Lionel #Messi comes in and the inevitable, glorious 3rd goal for #InterMiamiCF is scored on a play generated by the GOAT 🐐…#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 19, 2024
The superb Lionel Messi show was only getting started for Inter Miami CF. Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi teamed up with a series of short passes that culminated in a Messi rocket for the 4-2 lead.
Lionel #Messi & Luis Suarez collaborate on a fantastic give-&-go that is finished by the GOAT 🐐 with a majestic left-footed launch 🚀…#InterMiamiCF #MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 19, 2024
Only three minutes later, Lionel received a pass inside the box as he ran behind the New England defense to finish with a shot between the goalie’s legs.
Lionel THE GOAT 🐐 #MESSI with the brace to put #InterMiamiCF up 5-2 & ice the match & secures the #MLS points record…
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 19, 2024
Inter Miami CF would save the best goal for last. Lionel Messi, Leo Campana, and Luis Suarez dreamed up a stupendous sequence that ended with Messi’s first hat trick for Inter Miami CF. Campana kissed the ball over the defense with his left foot for Luis Suarez who volleyed a spectacular pass to Messi for the finish.
LIONEL #MESSI with the hat trick for #InterMiamiCF …THE GOAT 🐐 came onto the pitch and blessed the Herons with three goals… He’s not human…6-2 Miami…#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 20, 2024
The match would end 6-2 with a Messi hat trick and the MLS points record belonging to Inter Miami CF.
Postgame
I found Tata Martino’s explanation of the gameplan versus New England to be interesting and insightful for the fans,
There was a part of the gameplan that was determined during the week, and it was to play 60 minutes in a 4-3-3 formation and the last 30 minutes in a 4-4-2.
The plan was set for the Herons to implement these two formations for a specified period of the match, but Tata adjusted in-game when the Revs pressured Miami’s two center-backs creating a 2 v2 scenario. The adjustment was something they had been preparing for during the practice week,
Busquets was brought down as a third center-back and Yannick would create the triangle playing as a pivot, in between the lines Julian and Taylor could drop to receive along with Luis..
Martino is often criticized by some for what they believe is his lack of tactical awareness. On Saturday he made the right moves and demonstrated that he and his staff are up to the task. Let’s see what the playoffs bring.
Final Thoughts
Saturday, October 19, 2024, will forever have a special place in the history of Inter Miami CF. The team was presented the Supporters’ Shield in front of their home fans after an exhilarating 6-2 victory over the New England Revolution. Miami was officially invited to the FIFA Club’s World Cup where they will play against the top clubs in the football world. The MLS points record was secured with a win over the previous record holders. Lionel Messi scored his first hat trick for Inter Miami in 11 minutes demonstrating why he is the GOAT and became the club’s all-time leading scorer in the process. Luis Suarez scored a fantastic brace, and the Herons will be hosting the opening match of the Club World Cup in Hard Rock Stadium.
This amazing night can only be topped this season with an MLS Cup Championship. The Herons are ready.
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