Lionel Messi scored an 11-minute hat-trick as Inter Miami beat the New England Revolution 6-2 to ensure an MLS regular-season points total of 74.
Miami will head into the playoffs on the back of three straight victories after rounding out their regular-season campaign in emphatic fashion on Saturday.
Messi came on from the bench to plunder his rapid-fire hat-trick between the 78th and 89th minutes at Chase Stadium, where Miami fell behind to Luca Langoni's second-minute effort.
Dylan Borrero put the Revolution, who set the previous record points tally of 73 in 2021, 2-0 up, but two goals in as many minutes from Luis Suarez dragged Miami level.
Miami took control after the break, Messi and Jordi Alba combining to tee up Benja Cremaschi to make it 3-2.
It was the Messi show from then on. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner drilled in from the edge of the area after interplay with Suarez, before coolly slotting home after latching onto Jordi Alba's throughball.
His third was an immaculate team goal, with Suarez volleying it across for Messi to tuck into a gaping net and ensure Miami celebrated a record-breaking season in style.
Data Debrief: First of a kind
It was Messi's first MLS hat-trick, and it took him to 20 goals in the competition in 2024. Suarez also finished the regular season with 20 strikes to his name.
That makes Miami the first team in MLS history to have two players score at least 20 goals each during a regular season.
Miami have won 22 games this season, drawing eight and losing just four. They will face either CF Montreal or Atlanta United in the first round of the playoffs.
LAFC pip Galaxy to top seed, D.C. United miss MLS Cup Playoffs on Decision Day
Los Angeles FC beat their cross-city rivals, the LA Galaxy, to top spot in the Western Conference on the final day of the MLS regular season, while D.C. United were pipped to a playoff place by Atlanta United.
The Galaxy simply needed to avoid defeat to take the West's number one seed, with LAFC coming from behind to beat the San Jose Earthquakes 3-1.
Having gone behind to an Ezequiel Ponce strike away at the Houston Dynamo, the Galaxy drew level six minutes into second-half stoppage time as MLS Newcomer of the Year favourite Gabriel Pec converted from the penalty spot.
However, former Galaxy defender Daniel Steres headed into the top-left corner 11 minutes into stoppage time to hand LAFC their third conference title, and their second in three seasons.
Elsewhere, there was heartbreak for Troy Lesesne's D.C. side as a 3-0 defeat at home to Charlotte FC saw them slip out of the wild-card places in the Eastern Conference.
That result opened the door to Atlanta, who upset Orlando City with a 2-1 road win to move ahead of D.C. on goal difference and join Montreal in the wild-card round.
Josef Martinez joined Caden Clark on the scoresheet as Montreal beat already-qualified New York City 2-0 at Stade Saputo to finish eighth.
Those results meant the Philadelphia Union missed the postseason for the first time since 2017, as they squandered a 1-0 lead in a 2-1 home loss to FC Cincinnati to finish 12th.
Glasner wants to change Palace direction ahead of Forest trip
Oliver Glasner acknowledged Crystal Palace are "not going in the right direction" in the Premier League as his struggling side prepare to visit Nottingham Forest on Monday.
The Eagles sit in the relegation zone after going winless through their first seven league games before the October international break.
Glasner spent the pause for international football with his family in Austria, though struggled to "switch off" with his mind intent on atoning for Palace's drab start.
Palace were defeated 1-0 by high-flying Liverpool last time out in the competition, their fourth loss of the campaign, and an honest Glasner conceded change is needed.
"Regarding the results, no, we are not going in the right direction," Glasner said. "We wanted and expected a little bit more. Everything isn't so settled at the moment."
His message to Palace before their trip to the City Ground remains clear, however.
"Stick together, work hard and let's improve because then we can get the results," the Austrian added in a defiant pre-match rallying cry.
Forest, by contrast, have impressed through a difficult start to the season against high-quality opposition, managing a 1-1 draw away to Chelsea last time out despite James Ward Prowse's second-half dismissal.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo will not be on the touchline against Palace, however, after being handed a three-game ban for "unacceptable behaviour" in the 2-2 draw with Brighton before the international break.
"It's tough. We're going to be in permanent contact and what is important is that we prepare well and the players are ready to compete," Nuno said of his absence.
"I'm surprised. It's a big sanction but there's nothing we can do. It's not for me to judge.
"My job is to move forward and make sure the coaching staff are ready to help the team. We had a hearing, everything was normal. The sanction has been decided. Let's go."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nottingham Forest – Chris Wood
Chris Wood has scored six of Forest’s last nine Premier League goals, and has 19 goals for them overall in the division.
The New Zealand international is looking to become just the third player to hit the 20-goal mark for Forest in the competition, after Bryan Roy (24) and Stan Collymore (22).
Crystal Palace – Eberechi Eze
Only Erling Haaland (35) and Antoine Semenyo (31) had more shots in the Premier League this season – before the October international break – than Eberechi Eze (27), who has struggled without Michael Olise.
Eze has just one goal in the competition for those efforts, though, with his 3.7% shot conversion rate leaving Glasner needing more from his star attacker.
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
Though Palace have struggled this campaign, a draw appears the most likely result with little to separate these two sides for Monday's clash.
Forest are winless in their last seven home matches across all competitions (D4 L3), their longest such run since October 2020 (also seven), with Nuno needing to find a solution.
A point apiece also seems probable considering five of the last six league meetings between this pair have ended in draws, including the last three matches in a row.
That run still leaves Forest unbeaten in their last seven league meetings with Palace (W2 D5), while the Eagles are winless in their 10 previous top-flight clashes with Monday's hosts.
Only considering Premier League clashes, Forest have never lost in eight outings against Palace (W3 D5) – both the most they’ve faced a side without losing and the most the Eagles have faced a team without winning in the competition.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Nottingham Forest win – 38.6%
Draw – 27.8%
Crystal Palace win – 33.6%
Glenmuir, Happy Grove, Frome Technical book Round of 16 spots with consecutive wins
There was chaos at Carder Park in Portland as the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Wata daCosta Cup second round contest between former champions Glenmuir High and Titchfield High was briefly halted due to darkness on Saturday.
As the natural light faded, anticipation was that the lights at the venue would have been turned on by the ground personnel. However, a delay in doing so caused a pause in the game with Glenmuir leading 2-0 and 25 minutes plus added time to play, leaving fans disgruntled.
After about a 15-minute pause, the lights were eventually turned on, and Glenmuir saw off the remaining minutes to make it consecutive wins as they booked their spot in the Round of 16.
Orel Miller and Orane Watson scored the goals for Glenmuir High, who heads Group 7 on six points, three ahead of reigning champions Clarendon College, who registered a 3-1 win over Paul Bogle, also on three points. Titchfield is yet to get on the board.
Meanwhile, Happy Grove edged Denbigh High 4-3 in their Group 5 clash, which served as the curtain-raiser for the Glenmuir, Titchfield clash at Carder Park. The win, Happy Grove's second on the trot, secured them a spot in the Round of 16 as they sit comfortably atop the standings on six points.
Belair (one point), Denbigh (one point), and Holmwood Technical (zero point) complete Group 5.
Frome Technical also secured a Round of 16 berth with a 2-0 win over Black River High in Santa Cruz. Frome Technical remain at the summit of Group 2 on six points, two ahead of Ocho Rios High, who won their encounter 4-0 over Cedric Titus.
Saturday’s results
Maldon High 0, Alphansus Davis 2
Black River High 0, Frome Tech 2
STETHS 0, Manchester High 0
Spot Valley High 1, Kemps Hill High 2
Happy Grove High 4, Denbigh High 3
Titchfield High 0, Glenmuir High 2
Port Antonio High 4, Yallahs High 1
Rusea’s High 1, Cornwall College 1
Ocho Rios High 4, Cedric Titus High 0
Browns Town High 2, Munro College 1
William Knibb Memorial 0, Mannings School 1
Paul Bogle High 1, Clarendon College 3
Christiana High 4, St Mary High 0
Holmwood Tech vs Belair High (postponed)
Dinthill Technical 0, Central High 0
Garvey Maceo High 2, McGrath High 2
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
