FOXBOROUGH — While the Revolution were dropping out of postseason contention last September, Inter Miami went on a winning streak, concluding with an MLS Cup title in December. Now, the Revolution seem revived, and Inter Miami mired in doubt.

In the last week, the Revolution have not only held Lionel Messi’s team to a tie, they overtook it for second in the MLS Eastern Conference standings on points-per-game average. A Carles Gil 97th-minute penalty kick Saturday night gave the Revolution a 1-0 victory over Charlotte FC, while Miami lost, 4-3, to Orlando City.

The reversal in fortunes seemed improbable, but the Revolution (6-3-1, 19 points) have improved and Miami (5-2-4, 19 points) has shown signs of decline, going 0-1-3 at newly-opened Nu Stadium.

The Revolution revival started with the additions of goalkeeper Matt Turner and Israeli striker Dor Turgeman late last season. They hired coach Marko Mitrovic in November and brought in three of his US junior national team players — Ethan Kohler, Brooklyn Raines, and Griffin Yow. Kohler, 20, has replaced Brayan Ceballos (groin) in central defense, providing composure and quickness. Raines has been consistent in a holding midfield position, combining with Matt Polster (out with a hamstring injury) and Alhassan Yusuf. Yow has scored once in nine games.

Mitrovic seems to be bringing stability after the Revolution went through five head coaches — Bruce Arena and Caleb Porter, plus interims Richie Williams, Clint Peay, and Pablo Moreira — plus a roster shakeup, in a 27-month span.

“He’s a guy you want to run through a brick wall for. That’s the best way to describe him,” Kohler said. “He would do the very same for you. When you see someone willing to reciprocate what you put out, he sees that we work so hard, we put everything into it, and you see that he’s staying late, doing due diligence, putting his heart on the line, as well. It makes it a lot easier for guys to really rally.”

Meanwhile, after last season, Miami lost defender Jordi Alba and midfielder Sergio Busquets to retirement, and added striker German Berterame. Last month, coach Javier Mascherano resigned for “personal reasons,” a questionable description that raised questions considering most of his staff also departed. Mascherano, who compiled a 22-8-11 record (38-14-15 in all competitions) in one-plus seasons, was replaced by Guillermo Hoyos, who coached Messi on a Barcelona youth team. The team, 3-1-3 under Mascherano, has gone 2-1-1 under Hoyos. Messi seldom comments, but doesn’t conceal his body language, and he’s trudged directly to the locker room, head down, the last two games.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami haven’t won any of their first four games at their new Miami home, and on Saturday blew a three-goal lead to in-state rival Orlando City.Chris Arjoon/Associated Press

It has not been difficult to define Miami’s main problem as defensive, as it is tied for the conference lead in scoring (22) but has surrendered 19. Against Orlando City, the Herons squandered a 3-0 advantage, the fourth goal converted by Tyrese Spicer in stoppage time. On Wednesday, Spicer, a Trinidad & Tobago international, provided the cross for the decider in Orlando City’s 4-3 win over the Revolution in the US Open Cup.

On Saturday in Foxborough, Peyton Miller’s cross led to a Charlotte FC handling violation, as the Revolution tied a team record with five successive home victories. Gil’s late penalty kick was his second such one this season; improving his team record to 20 for 22 on penalties; and his 52nd career goal tied Lee Nguyen for third on the all-time scoring list behind Taylor Twellman (101) and Diego Fagundez (53).

The Revolution, who play host to the Philadelphia Union next Saturday, got off to a similar start last season, and were 5-4-1 after blanking Toronto FC in their 10th game. Then came a nine-game winless streak in June and July.

This time, they will take a break for the World Cup after 14 games.

“Momentum’s a real thing,” Kohler said. “I think once we started this win streak you always have a feel. I felt it, you know, we’re in the 80th minute and I still felt we were going to win the game. And that’s something you can’t replicate through tactics or whatnot, and now it’s a group we know how to win, and I think we’ve proven that.”

Frank Dell’Apa can be reached at frankdellapa@gmail.com.