Revolution Fall Flat in Messi’s Debut at Gillette Stadium
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (April 27, 2024) – The New England Revolution (1-7-1; 4 pts.) were defeated by Inter Miami CF (6-2-3; 21 pts.), 4-1, in front of a club-record crowd of 65,612 fans at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night. Tomás Chancalay’s opening-minute goal for New England sent the second-largest soccer crowd in Gillette Stadium history into a frenzy, but his early strike was cancelled out by two goals and two assists from Inter Miami midfielder Lionel Messi, who played all 90 minutes of the match.
New England immediately began the night on the front foot, with Tomás Chancalay tallying his first goal of the MLS regular season only 37 seconds into the match. Carles Gil intercepted a pass in the middle of the park and sent a ball in behind the Miami defense to Chancalay, who lofted a shot from a tight angle over the charging goalkeeper Drake Callender. The goal marked New England’s earliest in a match since Gil scored in the first minute against Atlanta on May 31, 2023.
Making his second appearance at Gillette Stadium, and his first since arriving in MLS last season, Messi pulled Inter Miami level with his first goal of the night in the 32nd minute. The Argentinian slotted home a through ball from Robert Taylor, beating Revolution goalkeeper Henrich Ravas, before he struck again with a 68th-minute goal to put Miami in front. Messi helped set up the final two goals on the night for Miami by Benjamin Cremaschi in the 83rd minute, and Luis Suarez in the 88th minute.
New England defender Henry Kessler started the match for his 100th professional appearance across all competitions for the club. Revolution midfielder Dylan Borrero entered the match in the 81st minute to make his long-awaited return from a knee injury suffered one year ago.
New England heads back on the road again next Saturday, May 4 to face Chicago Fire FC. The 8:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Solider Field is available to watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV in English and Spanish. Listen to the Revolution’s local radio calls on 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2 (WBZ-FM), with Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies, and on 1260 AM “Nossa Radio USA” in Portuguese
