Chase Stadium – Inter Miami CF demolished the NY Red Bulls 6-2 with some Messi magic, a hat-trick from Luis Suarez, and a Matias Rojas brace in a primetime showdown between two top teams in the Eastern Conference. Lionel Messi set two MLS records with his five assists and six-goal contributions in his magical night.
Starting XI
Drake Callender started in goal for the Herons, with an all-Argentine backline of Franco Negri, Nicolas Freire, Tomas Aviles, and Marcelo Weingandt. Sergio Busquets led the midfield flanked by Julian Gressel and David Ruiz. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Robert Taylor formed Miami’s powerful front line.
The Herons Starting XI 🆚 #NYRedbulls #Messi #MLS #InterMiamiCF https://t.co/fVIIzFS7LR
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 4, 2024
Game Action
The pre-game vibe was electric at Chase Stadium with a playoff-game atmosphere and a little payback in mind for Miami, but the Red Bulls came out sharp early in the match. NY controlled the tempo creating some scoring chances and looking like the more dangerous side. In the 30th minute, a Red Bull counter-attack led by Emil Forsberg put the visitors ahead 1-0. Dante Vanzeir blasted a rebound past Drake Callender and into the Heron net.
NY Red Bulls get on the scoreboard on a quick counter attack & a beautiful defense busting pass by Forsberg … Dante Vanzeir blasts the rebound into the #InterMiamiCF net…1-0 the Bulls lead …#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 5, 2024
Miami could not answer in the remaining minutes and NY could not extend its lead with the teams going into halftime with the 0-1 scoreline in the visitor’s favor.
The second half was a spectacular display of Inter Miami’s firepower and combined talent, with the Herons needing little time to flip the game around.
The Herons go into the half down 0-1 on the scoreboard … They are being outplayed by the Red Bulls …
Fortunately, for #InterMiamiCF they have players that can change the game in an instant…Second half should be entertaining #MLS #Messi pic.twitter.com/facnIlw7x2
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 5, 2024
Matias Rojas replaced David Ruiz in the midfield to start the second half and immediately changed the game. Rojas received a pass from Messi and pushed past two Red Bulls defenders to launch a missile strike into the top right corner of the NY goal in the 48th- minute. Rojas tied the match at 1-1.
Matias Rojas with his signature left-footed missile form outside the box ties the match at 1-1…#InterMiamiCF
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 5, 2024
Merely two minutes later, Rojas forced a Wike Carmona turnover that Luis Suarez turned into an assist to Lionel Messi for the Miami 2-1 lead. Matias Rojas immediately infused talent and energy into the Miami midfield.
Rojas forces a turnover that leads to the 2nd goal for #InterMiamiCF & the 2-1 advantage… Instant impact 🔥#MLS #Messi
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 5, 2024
The lightning-quick response by Miami seemed to startle the Bulls who lost their composure and perhaps confidence. The Herons started to soar and did not look back as Lionel Messi and Matias Rojas danced around the Bulls with a series of quick passes to each other that ended with a spectacular assist by Messi for an exquisite Rojas chip and the 3-1 scoreline.
Two maestros! #Messi & Rojas play two man ball ⚽️ & destroy the Red Bulls defense with Rojas finishing with a classy chip into the NY net… #InterMiamiCF leads 3-1…#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 5, 2024
The Herons kept coming after the Red Bulls via Luis Suarez putting on a finishing clinic at Chase Stadium. Lionel Messi lulled the NY defender to sleep and then launched a subtle pass to Suarez who elegantly volleyed the ball into goal for the 4-1 Heron advantage.
Lionel #Messi like a 🐍 snake charmer lulls the Red Bull defender to sleep and gives a magical assist to Luis Suarez for the 4-1 #InterMiamiCF lead..#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 5, 2024
It was only the beginning for Suarez who teamed up with Messi to slice right through the middle of the NY defense to bury his second goal of the night in the 75th minute.
Lionel #Messi & Luis Suarez will never get tired of scoring goals together…Once again they team up to give #InterMiamiCF a 5-1 lead..#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 5, 2024
Merely six minutes later Suarez put the finishing touches on the rout for Miami. Messi served his MLS record fifth assist to Suarez who finished like a master striker pushing the ball into the NY net for his hat-trick.
Luis Suarez scores #InterMiamiCF leads 6-1 and the Herons are showing the Red Bulls the pecking order in the Eastern Conference & why not #MLS #Messi
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 5, 2024
It was a tale of two halves in Miami. NY controlled the first half but could only score once. Miami dominated the second half with players of the quality of Messi, Suarez, and Rojas putting it in goal.
Postgame
Matias Rojas was asked about his second goal of the night, and if he was expecting the incredible pass from Messi that led to his classy chip over the NY goalie,
No, I didn’t expect it…I left the ball for him and ran into space losing sight of him then finding the ball in front of me. I was able to finish the play
Rojas seemed to have instant chemistry with Messi Saturday night with a series of passes between the two lefties making the Bull’s defense dizzy. It’s marvelous to hear a quality pro like Matias admit that even he was surprised by Messi’s magic on the pitch. Rojas also spoke about finding spaces or gaps between lines faster when playing out the back,
We understood where the space was and we spoke about trying to connect between lines faster, about not taking too long playing the ball out of the back
The Herons were completely different in the second half when they decided to be a vertical team, playing quicker in between lines and taking chances on the attack. It will be interesting to see how they evolve their style of play throughout this season.
Final Thoughts
The hierarchy in the Eastern Conference and maybe in MLS was established last night in Chase Stadium. The Herons are at the top of the pecking order. Inter Miami has the deepest and most talented roster in the league and they showed it while dismantling a good NY Red Bull squad that had defeated Miami 4-0 in their first meeting in New Jersey earlier in the season. Messi, Suarez, Rojas, and Busquets, are at another level.
The pecking order has been clearly established.. The Herons fly past the Red Bulls 6-2…#Messi, Suarez , & Rojas display all their class tonight #InterMiamiCF #MLS pic.twitter.com/NrGEfO0YsU
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 5, 2024
Lionel Messi is the GOAT. Like fine wine, he is aging majestically. A record-breaking five assists and six-goal contributions on an epic night. He never ceases to amaze, and that is why he is the biggest star in all of sports.
The Goat 🐐 #InterMiamiCF #Messi #MLS https://t.co/uX94FxMwa6
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 5, 2024
Inter Miami is setting the bar high this season in MLS. The herons are now prohibitive favorites to win the MLS Cup and among the favorites for the upcoming Leagues Cup. The quality and depth of this squad gives fans the “Freedom to Dream.”
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