Inter Miami CF (4W-0L-1D, 13 points) continued their impressive start to the 2025 MLS regular season with a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union at Chase Stadium. This win extended the team’s unbeaten streak to five games in MLS play and nine across all competitions, propelling them to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
Inter Miami took to the field with Óscar Ustari in goal, while the defensive line featured Ian Fray, Tomás Avilés, Maximiliano Falcón, and Jordi Alba. The midfield consisted of Sergio Busquets, Federico Redondo, Robert Taylor, Benjamin Cremaschi, and Fafa Picault, while Luis Suárez led the attack. Notably, Taylor made his return to the starting XI after recovering from a knock sustained in the March 2 victory against Houston Dynamo.
The hosts broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute with a well-worked counterattack. Busquets initiated the play by releasing Alba down the left flank. Alba found Cremaschi inside the box, who then assisted Taylor for a close-range finish, giving Inter Miami a 1-0 lead. The goal marked Taylor’s first of the 2025 MLS season, while Cremaschi notched his second assist of the campaign.
The second half saw a pivotal substitution as captain Lionel Messi entered the match in the 55th minute, replacing Taylor. Just two minutes later, Messi doubled Inter Miami’s advantage in the 57th minute. A swift counterattack involving Picault, Messi, and Suárez culminated in Suárez threading a precise pass to Messi inside the box. The Argentine maestro finished clinically with a right-footed shot to the far post, securing his second goal of the season. Suárez recorded his fourth assist of the campaign, while Messi’s goal saw him tie Gonzalo Higuaín for the most goal contributions (43) in club history for MLS regular season play.
Philadelphia managed to respond in the 80th minute through Dániel Gazdag, who found the back of the net to cut the deficit to 2-1. Despite a late push from the Union, Inter Miami held firm to secure the victory.
With this win, Inter Miami extends its unbeaten streak to nine games in all competitions and solidifies its position at the top of the Eastern Conference. Up next, the team will travel to California to face LAFC at BMO Stadium on Tuesday, April 2, at 11:30 p.m. ET in the first leg of the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals.
