Inter Miami have not been a good team without Lionel Messi this season, and are more reliant on him than ever. Meanwhile, they are also down to unnatural left backs, allowing Evander and FC Cincinnati to take advantage out wide, giving them the favorite tag heading into the clash.

SportsLine's Brandt Sutton reveals his soccer picks for the MLS match featuring New York Red Bulls vs. Lionel Messi and Inter Miami

By the time the 60th minute rolled around, the boisterous — and largely pro-Lionel Messi — crowd had nearly reached a fever pitch at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

With braces from Lionel Messi, Telasco Segovia and a goal from Jordi Alba, the win brought Miami to 41 points in 21 games, and kept them in the running for the top of MLS and the Eastern Conference, ahead of next week’s match against FC Cincinnati.