FLUSHING, NY(SMI-GLOBAL-SPORTS-SEPT-25-26, 2025)-NYCFC and Inter Miami FC collided in showdown match trying to add points and secure homestead play-off advantage through the MLS post-season play, with The Herons defeating the Boys in Blue 4-0,  and 2-goals by global super-star Lionel Messi, who became the first player in MLS history to register 35+ goals contribution back-to-back season at Citi Field in Flushing NY.

Both teams are in the playoffs for the 2025 MLS post-season-play, and NYCFC with the loss remain and share 4th place with Charlotte with 3-game left in the season while Inter Miami gained some ground in the Eastern conference standings taking third place & 55-points with 5-games remaining. 

NYCFC had two great opportunities to open the score in the first half during two-counter attacks in span of 8', when Nico Fernandez centered a corner-kick inside the 6-yard box finding defender Thiago Martins, who headed it to goal but it bounced-off Miami's Oscar Ustari body back onto the pitch at 21' mark, and Nico Fernandez on a breakaway evaded two defenders and shot a low left-footed from inside the 18, hitting the goalpost out of bounce at 29' mark.  

With 2' left in the first half, Lionel Messi from the midfield rolled a perfect pass through the middle to midfielder Baltasar Rodriguez who on a breakaway with 2-defenders scored from inside the 18' at 43', with a rolling right-footed to the opposite goalpost to make it 1-0, in favor of Inter-Miami at the half.

Lionel Messi increased the lead of 2-0 at 74', for Inter-Miami when midfielder Sergio Busquets rolled a perfect pass to Messi from midfield, and who scored with a chipped-over NYCFC's goalkeeper Matt Freeze that ended in back of the net to put the Herons 2-0, over the Boys in Blue.

The visitors took control of the midfield and the game from there on with Inter Miami adding two more goals with seven minute remaining in the game. Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul was brought-down inside 18' by NYCFC's Justin Haak for a penalty call by the referee. Striker Luis Suarez executed and scored the penalty shot with a right-footed to the far-goalpost at 83' and Lionel Messi added his second goal of game three minute later when he received a pass through the right-side field and scored with right-footed to the far goalpost to seal a 4-0, victory for the Herons over the Boys in Blue.

With the loss, NYCFC share 4th place with Charlotte, 53 points and three games remaining in the 2025 MLS season against the NY RedBulls (Away), Philadelphia (Away) & Seattle Sounders(Home).

Article Written & Photo By Marcello Cutti II/Starlight Illustrated