Lionel Messi settled the contest in the 83rd minute with a clinical, angled left-footed finish after latching onto a pass from Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia. The strike took the Argentine's tally to 26 goals this MLS season and 951 in his illustrious career.

Earlier, he had engineered the equaliser for German Berterame, who nodded home in the 69th minute from the Rosario native's pinpoint assist. The Mexican cancelled out Hungarian attacker Daniel Gazdag's 53rd-minute opener.

Inter Miami delivered a spirited response after a goalless first half and falling behind in a direct shootout for second place. The victory lifts them to 59 points, leapfrogging New England on 58.

The Florida outfit also halted a two-game winless run and booked their place in the next edition of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the final major trophy Messi is targeting.