Lionel Messi and Inter Miami stepped onto a rainy field Wednesday night and did something they had never managed. They beat New York City FC on the road — clinching a playoff spot and continuing its push for a second consecutive Supporters’ Shield.
Messi bagged a brace while a returning Luis Suarez and Baltasar Rodriguez also scored to propel Inter Miami to a 4-0 victory against NYCFC at a wet Citi Field in New York.
The triumph — which marked the South Florida side’s first win in the Big Apple and first shutout since July 26 — improved Inter Miami to 16-6-7. The 55 points from those matches have the Herons five points off of the lead for the Supporters’ Shield with two games in hand.
It rained buckets and goals in the baseball venue in Queens, with Messi scoring twice after halftime to take sole possession of the top spot in the MLS Golden Boot race.
The Argentine now has 24 goals on the season. Messi also delivered the game-winning assist to Rodriguez in the 43rd minute on a nice sequence down the middle. Inter Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets found Messi in between the lines with a nice pass on the play, and Messi proceeded to hit an exquisite through ball to a streaking Rodriguez for a 1-v-1 look that was tucked away.
Messi went from provider to scorer to double the lead on a vintage play in the 74th. Longtime teammate Busquets released the Inter Miami captain with a tremendous through ball from deep, and Messi finished with a classy chip over NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese.
Suarez — who was making his first appearance since serving a three-game suspension — got in on the scoring nine minutes later.
After Rodrigo De Paul was clipped inside the 18-yard box for a penalty, Suarez stepped up to cooly convert with a low effort to the left. Messi then capped the scoring in the 86th minute, hitting a cross-body finish to the left post seconds after substitute teammate Tadeo Allende skied a chance that could have added to the lead.
NYCFC had two golden opportunities to take the lead in the first half when the game was scoreless, but the hosts failed to capitalize. Brazilian centerback Thiago Martins first had a point-blank header off a corner kick in the 21st minute that was saved by Inter Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
Then, Argentine attacker Nicolas Fernandez’s roller was denied by the right post at the half hour mark after cutting by centerback Maximiliano “Peluca” Falcon.
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano made five changes to the starting lineup, which was deployed in his usual 4-4-2 formation.
Suarez returned from his three-game suspension to pair with Messi up top, Rodriguez and Matteo Silvetti were deployed in the wide midfield positions and Noah Allen and Ian Fray slotted in at left centerback and right back, respectively. The game marked Allen’s 100th appearance with the Herons. Inter Miami will continue this two-game road swing on Saturday night with a visit to Canada for an Eastern Conference bout with Toronto FC.