Messi Assist Lifts Inter Miami to Playoff Spot
AM730 · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago1 MIN
Summary
Lionel Messi delivered another decisive assist as Inter Miami defeated New York City FC 2-0 at home on Wednesday night, securing the club's playoff spot with five matches still to play in the MLS regular season. The Argentine superstar, recently returned from international duty, provided the key pass for Rodrigo De Paul's goal in first-half stoppage time, helping Miami to their first consecutive wins since July.
Key Points
- German Berterame opened the scoring in the 20th minute, finishing a setup by Luis Suarez to give Miami a 1-0 lead
- Messi combined with De Paul in first-half stoppage time to double the advantage, with the Argentine midfielder converting from close range
- Inter Miami accumulated 49 points to rank second in the Eastern Conference, clinching a playoff berth with five games remaining
- Messi currently leads the MLS scoring charts with 23 goals and shares the assists lead with 14 this season
- Head coach Kily Gonzalez praised the squad's unity, noting teammates show "love" for Messi and "give everything" for him
Why It Matters
The victory marks Miami's return to championship contention after their historic 2024 MLS Cup triumph, with Messi's continued excellence positioning the team as a strong favourite for another deep playoff run .
The victory marks Miami's return to championship contention after their historic 2024 MLS Cup triumph, with Messi's continued excellence positioning the team as a strong favourite for another deep playoff run .