Josef Martinez scored the tiebreaking goal late in the first half and Inter Miami recorded a 2-1 victory over the high-flying New England Revolution on Saturday night at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
David Ruiz added one goal and one assist for Inter Miami (5-6-0, 15 points), who won their third straight game following a six-match slide.
Carles Gil scored for first-place New England (7-2-3, 24 points), which had an eight-game unbeaten streak (5-0-3) halted. It was the Revolution’s first loss since being routed 4-0 by Los Angeles FC on March 12.
A Miami misplay gave Jozy Altidore a major chance to knot the score in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time. But Altidore’s short-range, left-footed shot was stopped by Miami’s Drake Callender for the goalkeeper’s lone save of the match.
Inter Miami played short-handed for the final 16 minutes of action — nine regulation, seven stoppage-time — after Ruiz was shown the red card after drawing his second yellow of the match.
The Revolution had an 8-7 edge in shots but Miami placed four on target to New England’s two.
Djordje Petrovic made one stop for New England.
Martinez put Inter Miami ahead in the 44th minute with his third goal in two matches and 101st of his MLS career.
Ruiz got possession to the side of the net and spotted Martinez open in front. Martinez received the pass and easily knocked a right-footed shot into the net.
Ruiz gave Miami a 1-0 edge in the sixth minute when he sent a left-footed shot toward the net. The ball caromed off the foot of New England’s Dave Romney and changed directions en route to finding the goal.
The Revolution appeared to knot the score when Noel Buck sent a left-footed shot into the left corner of the net. But the goal was reviewed and overturned in the 19th minute as New England was ruled to have been offside.
The Revolution formally tied the match in the 26th minute when Gil received a pass from Matt Polster and booted a right-footer into the right corner of the net.
–Field Level Media