Miami Reach Playoffs for Third Consecutive Time with Messi’s Assist

Bangla Press Desk: Amidst the winning streaks of PSG and Real Madrid, and the general frenzy surrounding European football, Inter Miami has carved out a new chapter in its own history across the Atlantic.
For Inter Miami and Lionel Messi, the number of the day is "three." By defeating New York City FC 2-0, the Florida-based side has secured a spot in the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Playing at home, Miami put their opponents under pressure right from the start. With two goals scored in the first half, the heroes of the victory were Germán Berterame and Rodrigo de Paul.
Although he didn't score himself, captain Lionel Messi was the mastermind behind De Paul’s brilliant goal. Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair also played a pivotal role in Miami’s win; he stood like a wall in front of the goal, denying four near-certain scoring opportunities, including a penalty.
Since joining Miami in 2023—a year in which the team failed to reach the playoffs—Messi has never looked back. The Argentine captain has maintained this consistent success for three seasons in a row.
The battle for the ultimate MLS title begins with these playoffs. The top nine teams from each of the two conferences during the regular season qualify. The top seven teams advance directly to the quarter-finals, while the remaining two must navigate a "wild card" round. The eventual winner of the playoffs claims the league’s coveted trophy, the "MLS Cup." Having won the title last season, Miami is now in the running to become the first team since the 2011–12 Los Angeles Galaxy to win back-to-back championships.
Meanwhile, Messi also stands on the verge of setting new personal records. He is a strong contender to be named the MLS 'Most Valuable Player' (MVP) for the third consecutive time. This season, he has scored 23 goals and provided 14 direct assists. The Argentine forward is also leading the race for the Golden Boot—an award he could win for the second year in a row—with his closest rival, Petar Musa, trailing by four goals. In the match held on Thursday morning, Inter Miami took the lead in the 20th minute following a well-orchestrated attack. Messi delivered the ball from the edge of the box to De Paul, who then passed it to Luis Suárez in front of the goal. Suárez, in turn, bypassed opposing goalkeeper Matt Freese to set up Berterame, who easily slotted the ball into the net—marking the Mexican forward's first league goal in nearly five months.
The hosts scored their second goal in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time. Launching a counter-attack, Berterame provided a pass to Messi, who delivered a precise cross from the right flank toward De Paul near the penalty area. The Argentine midfielder then fired a brilliant shot into the back of the net.
Although New York City was awarded a penalty in the final moments of the match, Miami goalkeeper St. Clair made a superb save to deny them. Despite taking 14 shots throughout the game, New York City failed to find the back of the net. Prior to this, the last time Inter Miami managed to keep a clean sheet in two consecutive matches across all competitions was back in March. With the regular season concluded, the true excitement of the MLS—the play-offs—is set to begin on November 18.
BP/TD