Like most MLS teams facing Inter Miami on the road, the odds were stacked against the New England Revolution on Saturday as they went up against one of the hottest teams in the league.
Miami were unbeaten in their previous eight league matches, and were 2-0-0 under new manager Guillermo Hoyos. The Revs came into the match on a hot streak of their own, winning all four of their previous MLS games and sitting in the top five of the Eastern Conference standings.
From kickoff, Miami dictated the flow of the game. The Herons dominated possession, and the Revs spent the first 15 minutes of the game chasing the ball around the pitch as Lionel Messi and company passed circles around them. Miami's dominance of possession yielded a few high-quality chances, including a volley from Luis Suarez that Matt Turner flew across his goal to save, but were unable to put the ball in the back of the net. Miami's $15 million signing Germán Berterame found himself in good positions, but didn't manage to generate clear-cut scoring chances.
After Miami's hot start, the Revs were able to settle into the match, with Griffin Yow finding a few half-chances, but the rhythm of the game was clear from the jump. The Revs would have to sit back, defend, and take their chances on the counterattack. The prospect of keeping Messi, Luis Suarez, and Berterame from scoring for 90 minutes may seem a daunting task, but for a Revolution squad who have built an identity on defending hard and scraping out tight wins, the flow of the game played into their strengths.
The second half brought more of the same, as the Revs continued to absorb Miami's pressure. In the 52nd minute, the hosts finally put the ball in the back of the net. Rodrigo De Paul played an incisive through ball to his Argentine compatriot Tadeo Allende, who finished past Matt Turner. However, the assistant's flag would go up, ruling out a slick goal from Miami.
It would be the Revolution to strike first in the 56th minute, shortly after Miami's disallowed goal. From a throw-in in the attacking third, Dor Turgeman held off Miami centerback Maxi Falcón before leaving the ball for an oncoming Carles Gil. The Revs' main man – as he's done so often during his time with the club – showd up when it mattered most and found the opening goal, calmly lifting the ball over Dayne St. Clair. Turgeman's assist capped off a productive night for the striker, who made several contributions in attack and defense, showcasing an impressive work rate.
Despite the Revolution's hard work on the defensive end, Miami broke through in the 75th minute through Berterame. A close-range effort from Suarez was turned away by Turner, but it fell right to Berterame, who only needed to pass the ball into the empty net. This was the only mistake in an otherwise brilliant performance for Turner, who made 9 saves and was a big reason why New England was able to leave Miami with a point.
The final quarter of an hour had a more open feel than the rest of the match, with both sides pushing on for a potential winner. Messi had a chance to win it in the 81st minute, but his effort sailed over the bar, which summed up a disappointing night for Miami's captain. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner created numerous scoring chances for himself and his teammates, but ended without any goal contributions to show for the danger he created. The Revs had a chance to grab a surprise winner on the counter, but Brooklyn Raines' effort was saved by St. Clair in the dying moments of the game following a 2-on-1 opportunity.
The final whistle brought New England's first point against Miami in nearly three years and extended the Revs' unbeaten streak to five games. The two sides held their ground in the Eastern Conference standings, with Miami in second and New England in fourth. The Revolution dug deep and held on to earn a point on the road, and their efforts were surely appreciated by head coach Marko Mitrović. The team has quickly developed a scrappy, underdog identity and has been one of the surprising success stories of the early part of the 2026 MLS season.
The Revs will look to keep up the momentum when they host Orlando City at Centreville Bank Stadium in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday before an MLS showdown with Charlotte FC on May 2.
