In Harrison, New Jersey, New York Red Bulls turned Inter Miami’s visit into a damaging night for Lionel Messi’s side, winning 2-0 and ending their pursuit of the MLS Supporters’ Shield. Mexican forward Jorge Ruvalcaba helped stretch a Miami defence that never settled, while Nashville’s result in Montreal secured the regular-season honour for the Tennessee club.
Key takeaways
- New York Red Bulls beat Inter Miami 2-0 after taking the lead through a seventh-minute Casemiro own goal.
- Jorge Ruvalcaba was denied twice after the interval by Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.
- Messi entered in the 56th minute, replacing Riquelme Fillipi, but could not inspire a comeback.
- Emil Forsberg sealed the home win in stoppage time after coming on five minutes earlier.
- Nashville clinched their first Supporters’ Shield with three matches still remaining.
Red Bulls punish Miami’s uncertainty
Miami fell behind almost immediately when Casemiro turned the ball into his own net in the seventh minute. The early setback gave the Red Bulls a platform to manage the contest, as the visitors struggled to play cleanly out from the back and establish sustained possession.
The hosts repeatedly found room against Miami’s defensive line. St. Clair kept the score within reach with saves from Ronald Donkor, then produced further important stops against Ruvalcaba after half-time. The Canadian goalkeeper also denied Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting as the Red Bulls pressed for a second goal.
Ruvalcaba could not add his name to the scoresheet, but his movement gave New York another route forward as Miami left spaces behind them. At the other end, the Florida side lacked consistency in their attacking build-up and were unable to turn their territorial moments into regular chances.
Messi began among the substitutes and was introduced in the 56th minute for Riquelme Fillipi. Miami needed a recovery to remain in the race for top spot in the regular season, yet their closest moment came late on. In the 84th minute, Ethan Horvath saved from Santiago Morales before Telasco Segovia struck the crossbar from the follow-up.
That miss preserved New York’s narrow advantage. Then, in the first minute of added time, Cameron Harper supplied Emil Forsberg, who had entered in the 85th minute, for the goal that settled the contest at 2-0.
Nashville take the season’s regular-season prize
Miami’s defeat left them second in the Eastern Conference on 55 points, while Nashville moved to 70 by winning 2-0 away to Montreal. With three fixtures still to play, Nashville were mathematically beyond reach in the Supporters’ Shield race.
The trophy, awarded to MLS’s best regular-season team, is Nashville’s first. For Inter Miami, the loss in the New York metropolitan area removed the possibility of catching the leaders; for the Red Bulls and Ruvalcaba, it was a result that reshaped the closing stretch of the campaign and halted Messi’s club at a decisive moment.
