Lionel Messi struck a late winner as Inter Miami defeated the New England Revolution 2-1 to maintain their hopes of finishing second in the Eastern Conference in MLS.
New England Revolution 1-2 Inter Miami: Messi strikes winner as battle for second stays open
Inter Miami leapfrogged the New England Revolution to go second in the Eastern Conference, as Lionel Messi orchestrated a comeback victory.
The Revs would have confirmed second place, behind runaway Supporters' Shield winners Nashville SC, with a victory, but instead, Miami will go into Decision Day one point clear of Marko Mitrovic's team.
The hosts started brightly, with Daniel Gazdag's drive being turned around the near post by Dayne St. Clair, before Payton Miller volleyed over from the resulting corner.
Miami's only real chance of the first half saw German Berterame's shot pushed over by Matt Turner, and they then fell behind in the 53rd minute. Miller got to the byline and centred the ball low, and following a clever flick from Ilay Feingold, Gazdag lashed home.
A heroic goal-line clearance from Brooklyn Raines denied Berterame after Messi's shot was parried by Turner, but Miami did draw level in the 69th minute. Telasco Segovia's scooped pass – intended for Messi – was only half-cleared by Raines, and Berterame headed into the bottom-right corner.
Messi's 83rd-minute winner was a thing of beauty, as the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner spun away from three players, quickly exchanged passes with Segovia, then drilled into the bottom-right corner from the edge of the area.
The Revs thought they had levelled when Miami's Ian Fray turned into his own net, but after a VAR review, the goal was chalked off due to Luca Langoni being offside in the build-up.
Messi provides magic as Miami warm up for playoffs
These two teams could be reunited in the postseason and are simply jostling for seeding in the closing weeks of the regular campaign, having long since confirmed their playoff spots.
And it was Miami who put themselves in pole position to finish second in the East with a stirring fightback, one that was authored by Messi and Berterame.
Messi now has 26 goals and 16 assists on the season and is surely the favourite to win an unprecedented third MVP award in a row, though it was Berterame who led all players for shots (five), shots on target (three) and chances created (four) here.
The Herons' victory certainly represented a statement of their MLS Cup ambitions, against a Revs side that had won four straight games coming into Sunday's contest.
Miami now close their regular season out at home to Charlotte FC on Saturday, while the Revs visit Orlando City.
