NEW DELHI: Lionel Messi scored his second hat-trick of the week, and Luis Suarez scored twice as Inter Miami defeated the New England Revolution 6-2, shattering the regular season points record in Major League Soccer.
With their victory in the regular season finale, Miami surpassed the previous record of 74 points, which was set by New England in 2021.
With Inter having already won the Supporters’ Shield for the best record in the regular season and solidifying their position as the clear favorites in the MLS Cup playoffs, which begin next week, the task of surpassing the record provided some spice to the season’s last game.
Before halftime, Suarez scored twice to pull Gerardo Martino’s club level after Miami had fallen behind 0-2.
The home crowd was calling for Messi to be brought on from the bench after goals from Argentine Luca Langoni and Colombian Dylan Borrero in the 34th minute, but it was Uruguayan Suarez who started the comeback.
The former Barcelona and Liverpool striker equalized with a solid left-foot finish following strong work by David Martinez.
Subsequently, Suarez achieved a superb solo finish, creating space for himself, transferring to his right foot, and driving home.
Messi came off the bench in the 58th minute to help put the team ahead, finding Jordi Alba who set up Benjamin Cremaschi for a tap-in. Messi had scored a hat-trick for Argentina against Bolivia on Tuesday.
Bobby Wood’s goal gave New England hope that they had tied the score, but a VAR review showed that the play was a handball.
Messi then made it 4-2. He did so by wonderfully smashing into the far bottom corner after receiving a back-heeled pass from Suarez.
The Argentine was on target once more as he effortlessly finished a brilliant feed from Jordi Alba. In the 89th minute, he sealed his hat-trick by meeting a volleyed cross from Suarez with a first-time finish.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino joined club co-owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas at the post-game celebration of the Supporters Shield triumph. Infantino declared that the Shield had secured the squad a spot in the 2025 Club World Cup.
