Messi, Suarez, Fafa score, Inter Miami beats Red Bulls 4-1 to snap losing streak
The scoring drought is over for Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez and their pink-clad fans had reason to party again as Inter Miami broke out of a three-game losing slump.
Messi and Suarez finally found the back of the net on a drizzly Saturday night to help the home team earn a much-needed 4-1 win over the New York Red Bulls, to the delight of the Chase Stadium crowd, which included Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and former Dolphins receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Desperate to end the losing skid, coach Javier Mascherano made a few tweaks to the starting lineup.
Winger Fafa Picault, midfielder Yannick Bright and center back Gonzalo Lujan replaced Telasco Segovia, Fede Redondo and Maxi Falcon from the Starting XI that lined up against the Vancouver Whitecaps Wednesday night in the second leg of the Champions Cup semifinal, which Miami lost 3-1, leading to elimination from the tournament by a 5-1 aggregate score.
“With Fafa we were looking for more depth in our attack, to run more to spaces, with Fafa as well as Tadeo [Allende],” Mascherano said. “The other changes were technical decisions. We put one center back for another and Yannick for Fede as they alternate, and to give players some rest as we were playing after just 72 hours.”
Picault got the game off to a bright start for Inter Miami. The Miami Killian High alum, whose family lives in Palmetto Bay, scored the first goal of the night in the ninth minute.
Picault, a 34-year-old Haitian American who joined the team from Vancouver this season, was in the perfect spot near the goal when Suarez attempted a glancing header, which landed at Picault’s right foot, and he made a nice finish. Marcelo Weigandt made the cross to Suarez from the right side. Picault celebrated with a Haitian “Compas” dance at the corner flag.
“I was very happy for Fafa because he is a young man who always works, never complains, always does whatever he can for the team,” Mascherano said. “So for him to get his just reward with a good performance and a goal was great.”
Picault, who also had an assist, was asked about his performance and the victory.
“When we win, we are all happy, it was very important for us to get three points for our confidence and for our fans,” Picault said. “I always try to give my all for the team, whether it’s defensively or offensively, whether I play 90 minutes or 10. I saw the ball from Luis, I read it, and was in the right place.”
Once Picault scored, it seemed the team played with extra confidence.
At the 30-minute mark, Weigandt scored his first goal in an Inter Miami uniform on a spectacular second effort. The energetic Argentine right back sprinted to get a Picault cross from the left side and headed the ball from close range. New York keeper Carlos Coronel made the save, but Weigandt was there to pounce on the rebound from the ground with his right foot. The goal was reviewed for offside by VAR, and upheld.
Weigandt, known for his ever-present smile, leaped into his teammates’ arms to celebrate.
The Miami celebrations continued nine minutes later when Suarez finally broke out of a nine-game goal drought to give Inter Miami a 3-0 lead . Criticism of the 38-year-old forward had grown louder in recent weeks. But he scored from the center of the box with his left foot on Saturday, and you could feel the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting gave the Red Bulls life with a goal in the 43rd minute after a corner kick. Miami led 3-1 at halftime.
As usual, most of the 20,598 fans in the stadium wore Messi’s No. 10 shirt, and they got to witness a goal from their hero at the 67-minute mark. He launched a rocket of a shot with his legendary left foot after a give-and-go with Telasco Segovia.
Suarez, who was a leader in the Golden Boot race last season with 20 goals, had not scored since Mar. 13 against Jamaican club Cavalier in the Champions Cup Round of 16.
“Everyone knows how important scoring is for a center forward, for his confidence, and hopefully this will give him momentum,” Mascherano said.
Messi, who scored eight goals in the first 12 games this year, had gone scoreless through the past four and had no assists over that stretch.
“It was important for us to win this game after three losses in a row and get good feelings again,” Mascherano said. “In the first half, we were more effective than we had been in previous matches. In the second half, we tried to control possession more, manage the ball better, be less direct. At the end of the first half, we lost control of the ball and didn’t want to give them momentum.”
Mascherano praised Bright for his work rate and said the coaching staff is working on finding ways to help him preserve energy.
“He’s a great player, and when he has to come off, it’s usually because he’s completely exhausted because he runs so much,” he said. “We have to manage his minutes carefully so he doesn’t burn out. He and Fede [Redondo] provide crucial support to [Sergio] Busquets, who looks fresher thanks to those supporting players around him.”
Inter Miami (6-1-3, 21 points) is in fourth place in the MLS Eastern Conference, while the Red Bulls (4-4-3, 15) are in ninth place.
Mascherano understands there is frustration among the fan base for the team’s elimination from the Champions Cup, but said nobody is more frustrated than him and his team.
“I’m the one who’s most frustrated, along with the players, for not reaching the final,” he said. “But you have to remember, Inter Miami hasn’t had many opportunities to play games like these, in a semifinal. We’re still learning. The results will come in the future. Rome wasn’t built in two days. This club has high expectations, and that is commendable, but greatness comes from big nights, from victories, comebacks, and even from mistakes. We’ll keep pushing because we believe this team can compete.”
For now, they are focused on MLS.
“We’re going to fight for the top spots in the Eastern Conference, and then we’ll see what comes with the Club World Cup and the Leagues Cup. But right now, the most important game is the next one,” he said.
Inter Miami returns to action on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. with a road game against Minnesota United, which is in second place in the Western Conference with five wins, two losses and four ties.
This story was originally published May 3, 2025 at 7:02 PM.