# What the Red Bulls match revealed about Inter Miami
Inter Miami’s MLS Cup credentials took a hit after a 2-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls. Despite holding 65.9% of possession, Miami struggled to control the match, especially in midfield. Lionel Messi came on in the second half, but his arrival was not enough to turn the game around.
The defeat raised a significant question as the playoffs approach: can Inter Miami correct its midfield and tactical problems, or has the team become too reliant on Messi to provide a spark?
## Midfield struggles put Miami on the back foot
Miami had plenty of the ball, recording 906 touches and completing 86.3% of its 714 passes. Those numbers, however, did not translate into meaningful control or consistent attacking pressure.
The Red Bulls were more effective at disrupting Miami’s build-up and capitalizing on mistakes. Their opening goal followed a strong moment from 17-year-old midfielder Adri Mehmeti, who outplayed Rodrigo De Paul before Julian Hall found the net. A Casemiro own goal added to New York’s advantage.
Inter Miami coach Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez pointed to slow build-up play, turnovers in dangerous areas and a lack of compactness as key problems. When Miami lost possession in midfield, the team was often too spread out to recover quickly.
That disconnect made the visitors vulnerable even though they controlled possession for much of the match.
## Messi’s second-half entry could not change the result
Messi entered in the 56th minute to a huge response from the crowd. Expectations were high, but the 39-year-old had recently traveled to Spain for an award ceremony and was not at his freshest after a demanding few days.
He created two chances and recorded 0.13 expected goals plus expected assists. Miami showed some improvement after his introduction, producing 0.51 expected goals from five shots, compared with 0.3 before the substitution. Still, the team did not create enough to seriously threaten a comeback.
The result was not a failure on Messi’s part. Rather, it highlighted the limits of relying on one player to solve broader team issues. Even a player capable of deciding games with a moment of brilliance cannot consistently make up for poor spacing, midfield turnovers and an ineffective build-up.
## Inter Miami’s MLS Cup hopes depend on a clearer plan
Miami won the MLS Cup the previous season with Messi and Luis Suárez playing central roles, but the team also had a defined approach under former coach Javier Mascherano. Since Mascherano’s departure, Miami have looked less cohesive.
Gonzalez has recorded the same three wins in seven games that preceded Mascherano’s exit, and the team has not yet found reliable solutions to its problems. With the playoffs approaching, Inter Miami need to regain their rhythm and make better use of possession.
That means improving their midfield structure, reducing careless giveaways and keeping the team compact when attacks break down. Without those adjustments, Miami’s title hopes could depend too heavily on Messi producing a decisive moment in every game.
## Adri Mehmeti continues his breakout season
While Messi drew much of the attention, Mehmeti delivered one of the standout performances of the match. The 17-year-old Red Bulls midfielder helped establish New York’s control in the first half and showed composure against an experienced opponent.
Red Bulls coach Michael Bradley praised Mehmeti’s technical ability, personality and understanding of the game. He also noted that the teenager has taken on considerable responsibility in his first professional season.
Mehmeti’s development has not been perfectly consistent, as expected for a young player adjusting to the demands of senior soccer. But his performance against Miami showed why he is attracting attention and earning opportunities with the U.S. men’s national team.
## What Inter Miami must fix before the playoffs
The loss to New York was about more than a missed opportunity for Messi to change the scoreline. It exposed structural concerns that Inter Miami need to address before the postseason.
The team must build attacks with greater urgency, protect the ball in midfield and maintain better distances between its lines. Messi can still make a major difference, but Miami’s MLS Cup credentials will ultimately depend on whether the entire team can function with greater consistency.