Chase Stadium —Inter Miami CF spread its wings against the New York Red Bulls, ending a three-game losing streak with a resounding 4-1 victory. Fafa Picault, Marcelo Weigandt, Luis Suarez, and Lionel Messi scored for the Herons, while Mohammed Sofo scored for the NY Red Bulls.
Starting XI
The Herons lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Oscar Ustari in goal, Jordi Alba, Noah Allen, Gonzalo Lujan, and Marcelo Weigandt in the back four. Fafa Picault, Yannick Bright, Sergio Busquets, and Tadeo Allende in midfield, along with legends Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi as the forwards.
The Herons have a few changes to their Starting XI tonight but still no Ian Fray…Lujan, Bright, & Picault slot in for Falcon, Redondo, & Segovia…#MLS #InterMiamiCF #Messi
pic.twitter.com/bijAIspD4a— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 3, 2025
Game Action
Fafa Picault opened the scoring 9 minutes in for the Herons. Marcelo Weigandt sent in a tight cross into the box, which was redirected by Luis Suarez onto Picault. Fafa emphatically slammed the ball into the top netting of the NY goal for the early 1-0 Inter Miami lead. Picault celebrated with a little Compas, or Konpa dance moves, near the corner flag in honor of his Haitian roots.
Fafa Picault rams one in for the #InterMiamiCF 1-0 lead 9 minutes in…A Weigandt pass into the box is headed by Suárez & ends up at Fafa’s feet 👣 for the finish…#MLS #Messi
Dance FAFA Dance!
pic.twitter.com/n8MhYjRQP0— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 3, 2025
Picault returned the favor in the 30th minute, as Weigandt finished a Fafa cross with hustle and grit to extend Miami’s lead to 2-0.
Chelo Weigandt scores his first career goal with #InterMiamiCF after hustling to finish a FAFA pass into the NY net…#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 4, 2025
Luis Suarez returned to his scoring ways in the 39th minute. Tadeo Allende crossed a ball back to Suarez, who had his initial shot blocked by a Red Bull defender, but his left-footed follow-up increased the Heron lead to 3-0.
FINALLY! Luis Suarez scores for #InterMiamiCF to give the Herons the 3-0 score line… Suárez has been struggling to score & ends a 9 game scoreless drought…#Messi #MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 4, 2025
Mohammed Sofo got one back for the Red Bulls in the 43rd minute off a NY corner kick. The initial cross was headed back towards Sofo by Chopo-Motin, Sofo pushed it in to make the scoreline 3-1, Miami.
Chopa-Motín scores off a corner kick to get one back for NY… 3-1 #InterMiamiCF leads …#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 4, 2025
The Goat, Lionel Messi, finished the night off with a brilliant strike for the final 4-1 scoreline. Telasco Segovia and Lionel Messi touched around and over the NY defense in a small space. Messi controlled inside the box and with all the rage his left foot could muster, he rocketed it past the NY goalie. Messi had not scored in his four previous matches for Inter Miami.
Magic 🪄 by Telasco & #Messi ! The two touch the ball ⚽️ around & over the Red Bull defense for a GOAT 🐐 boombastic 💥 blast for the 4-1 #InterMiamiCF lead…#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 4, 2025
Postgame
I was able to ask Telasco Segovia and Fafa Picault some questions in the mixed zone after the match. Segovia teamed up with Messi for Inter Miami’s fantastic fourth goal of the evening; I asked him to give me some insight into his collaboration with Lionel’s goal. Telasco also let me know that he hasn’t had a Venezuelan arepa in Miami yet.
Telasco Segovia sobre su participación en el gol de #Messi y increíblemente todavía no se ha comido una arepa en Miami…#MLS #InterMiamiCF #Vinotinto pic.twitter.com/yJ3yKCF228
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 4, 2025
Fafa Picault had a very good match against the Red Bulls, registering a goal and an assist. The fans have been clamoring for Picault to get more playing time, and when he finally does, he comes through in a big way. I asked Fafa if his performance puts any pressure on Javier Mascherano to give him more minutes as a starter or off the bench. Fafa did a little Konpa dance after his goal, a shutout to his Haitian roots, and for the large Haitian community in Miami.
Fafa lets me know that no matter how long he’s on the pitch, he’s always going to give 💯… His little dance after his goal was compas, in honor of his 🇭🇹 Haitian roots..#MLS #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/BsmGq8mqwi
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 4, 2025
Final Thoughts
The Herons needed a big win to lift morale after their disappointing elimination from the CONCACAF Champions Cup by the Vancouver Whitecaps. Miami was dominated in the series; the 5-1 aggregate scoreline demonstrates that. Although it was against the Red Bulls, Miami needed to break out of its scoring slump. They did so Saturday night.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez also needed to break out of their scoring slumps. Suarez had a nine-game drought while Messi had been scoreless in the last four matches. Suarez finally got on the scoreboard in a less spectacular way than Messi did, but it still counts. Hopefully, the legends can continue to do what they’ve always done best: score goals.
Mascherano decided to move some pieces in his customary Starting XI, and it worked out quite well. Fafa Picault had a goal and an assist versus the Red Bulls. Gonzalo Lujan played perhaps his best match as a Heron. Yannick Bright was rock-solid in the midfield alongside Sergio Busquets. Hopefully, moving forward, Mascherano isn’t shy in rotating the Barca legends too.
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