MIAMI \u2014 Inter Miami CF beat Eastern Conference rival Philadelphia Union 6-4 in the final game before the FIFA World Cup break Sunday night.<\/p>\n
It was the same starting XI for Miami from its 2-0 victory against the Portland Timbers last weekend.<\/p>\n
It was not an ideal start for the Herons, as they conceded just three minutes into the match after a Philadelphia throw-in. Milan Iloski scored his sixth goal of the season.<\/p>\n
Philadelphia continued to apply constant pressure on Miami after the opening goal.<\/p>\n
That pressure led to an early penalty for Philadelphia after Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair fouled Iloski on a fast break.<\/p>\n
St. Clair was booked with a yellow card right before Iloski netted his second goal of the match.<\/p>\n
Miami responded three minutes later with a goal of its own, thanks to striker Germ\u00e1n Berterame. The assist came from none other than Lionel Messi.<\/p>\n
After 15 minutes of nonstop action, Philadelphia led 2-1.<\/p>\n
Miami\u2019s defense was nonexistent, as it conceded a third first-half goal to the Eastern Conference\u2019s last-place club.<\/p>\n
Bruno Damiani scored his first goal of the season for Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
Twenty minutes into the match, there had already been four goals and three yellow cards \u2014 a complete contrast to Miami\u2019s win against Portland last week.<\/p>\n
After a cooling break, Miami pulled one back to make it 3-2 thanks to a wonderful goal by Luis Su\u00e1rez.<\/p>\n
He controlled the ball with his chest and volleyed it in front of goal.<\/p>\n
Only 10 minutes later, Miami found its equalizing goal, making it an astonishing 3-3 before halftime.<\/p>\n
Berterame bagged his second goal of the game, giving him his first career brace for Miami. Messi recorded his second assist of the match.<\/p>\n
Not even five minutes later, Messi was fouled on the edge of the 6-yard box, but the referee played advantage for Miami, allowing Su\u00e1rez to score his second goal of the game and complete the comeback to make it 4-3.<\/p>\n
After the opening 45 minutes, the fourth official indicated nine minutes of stoppage time.<\/p>\n
Deep into stoppage time, Miami committed a handball, giving Philadelphia a chance to tie the match at 4-4.<\/p>\n
Iloski, who had already converted a penalty earlier in the game, calmly scored his third goal of the match, tying the game heading into halftime.<\/p>\n
It marked the second hat trick Miami has conceded at Nu Stadium, the first coming from Orlando City\u2019s Mart\u00edn Ojeda.<\/p>\n
The first half felt like a basketball game, featuring a record eight goals before halftime, the highest-scoring half in MLS history.<\/p>\n
Neither team made changes to start the second half, with both sides searching for a winner.<\/p>\n
After the extremely fast-paced first half, the game slowed considerably, with both teams playing more cautiously.<\/p>\n
As rain began pouring down, Miami won a free kick deep in Philadelphia\u2019s half.<\/p>\n
Messi took the shot, but it narrowly missed the far-right post.<\/p>\n
Miami had a huge chance to take the lead, but Ian Fray\u2019s shot hit the post.<\/p>\n
To everyone\u2019s surprise, Messi was taken out of the game for Mateo Silvetti after signaling to the bench that he needed a substitution.<\/p>\n
There could be an injury concern right before the World Cup.<\/p>\n
In the 81st minute, Miami found itself on the break and scored the go-ahead goal after Berterame laid the ball off for Su\u00e1rez in front of goal. The strike completed Su\u00e1rez\u2019s hat trick and put Miami ahead 5-4.<\/p>\n
It was his first MLS hat trick since 2024.<\/p>\n
After 90 minutes, eight minutes of stoppage time were added.<\/p>\n
On another fast break, Miami scored an incredible sixth goal to secure all three points. Rodrigo De Paul scored his first goal of the match.<\/p>\n
There were 10 total goals in the match, the most in MLS this season.<\/p>\n
Miami heads into the FIFA World Cup break with two straight wins at Nu Stadium.<\/p>\n
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