Putting their midweek Concacaf Champions Cup exit behind them, Inter Miami effectively ended a brief dip in form by securing a comprehensive 4-1 win against the New York Red Bulls. The Herons established a commanding 3-1 lead by halftime, with goals coming from Fafa Picault and Luis Suarez. Significantly for Miami, Suarez`s goal marked the end of a nine-match scoring drought, a positive sign for the team`s attacking prospects moving forward. While the team`s manager had recently emphasized the need for other players to contribute beyond just Lionel Messi – something achieved early in this match – the Argentine superstar certainly didn`t fail to leave his unmistakable mark on the game.
In the second half, Messi combined exquisitely with Telasco Segovia to net Miami`s fourth goal of the encounter. Although the sequence benefited somewhat from hesitant defending by the Red Bulls, this shouldn`t diminish the quality of the intricate interplay between the two Miami players. Segovia received the ball near the edge of the penalty area, promptly laying it off to Messi. The Argentine subtly shifted position before returning the pass to Segovia while continuing his run into the box. Demonstrating excellent understanding, Segovia executed a precise first-time flick pass back into Messi`s path, leaving New York goalkeeper Carlos Coronel with no chance against the clinical finish.
While it`s common for Messi to make opposing defenses look hapless, this particular goal served as a prime example of the dynamic playing style Inter Miami aspires to: fluent, attacking football played with creativity and urgency. This performance showed a clear improvement compared to their recent matches against teams like Vancouver or the Columbus Crew. Even though the Red Bulls may not currently possess the same level of opposition quality as those teams, regaining winning momentum in such convincing fashion on Saturday was crucial. The team`s objective now is to replicate this high standard of performance when they face Minnesota United, one of the top sides in the Western Conference, on May 10.
Benedict Kingsley 
Adrian Whitmore