Allende, Alba and Messi help Miami beat Revolution 4-1

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Tadeo Allende and Jordi Alba each scored two goals, Lionel Messi had three assists and Inter Miami beat the New England Revolution 4-1 on Saturday night.

Messi has 24 goals and 17 assist and his 41 goal contributions this season are the second most in MLS history. Carlos Vela had 49 (34 goals, 15 assists) for Los Angeles FC in 2019.

Miami (17-7-8) is third in the Eastern Conference with 59 points, three behind second-place Cincinnati and three ahead of Charlotte and New York City. Philadelphia, the points leader in all of MLS, has 66 points.

Allende ran onto a no-look pass played ahead by Messi and scored from the right corner of the 6-yard box with a low shot that slipped inside the back post to open the scoring in the 32nd minute.

Alba gave Miami a 2-0 lead in first-half stoppage time. Messi stole a misplayed first-touch pass by goalkeeper at the corner of the area, quickly cut to evade a defender near the penalty spot and then slipped a pass to Alba for the finish from point-blank range.

Dor Turgeman made his first career start in MLS and scored for New England in the 59th minute but moments later Allende held off a defender and put away a long arcing ball-ahead played by Messi to make it 3-1 in the 60th and Alba's second goal capped the scoring in the 63rd.

The 21-year-old Turgeman made his debut when he subbed on in 56th minute of the Revolution's 2-0 win over Atlanta last Saturday.

Miami beat the Revolution 2-1 on July 9.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, center left, reacts after teammate defender Jordi Alba (18) scores the side's second goal past New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner (30), during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Inter Miami forward Tadeo Allende (21) scores his side's first goal past New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner (30) and defender Brayan Ceballos during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner (30) watches as a ball kicked by Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba gets past him into the net for side's second goal, during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, right, controls the ball as New England Revolution midfielder Brandon Bye (15) and Inter Miami midfielder Rodrigo de Paul look on during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) comes under pressure from New England Revolution defender Brayan Ceballos (3) during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Jarrod Evans' last-second penalty lifted Wales past Japan 24-23 and to its first home victory in more than two years on Saturday.

Japan was set to defeat Wales in Cardiff for the first time but ill discipline in the dying moments, and after the fulltime hooter, gifted Wales a last shot that replacement back Evans landed from outside the 22 and close to the left touchline.

New Wales coach Steve Tandy, in charge of his second match, couldn't stand to watch Evans' attempt; he stood in the hallway behind the coaches' box in the Principality Stadium.

“I could see him take the kick but not the posts,” Tandy said. "I was thinking, ‘Oh my god.’

“I wanted a better performance than we did last week, I don't think we got that. I love working with this group, they are class to work with. I know there's inexperience in certain parts but we do expect more.”

The result ended Wales' record 10-match losing streak at home dating to August 2023. Wales also beat Japan in July in Kobe to end an 18-test losing streak, the longest in men's tier one history.

Asked about the end of the game, Japan coach Eddie Jones said: “I wanted to kill someone. No, I'm only joking. It's tough to lose in the last five minutes. You need to handle the pressure and we didn't. We had a lead and we should have been able to keep it.”

The lead changed six times in the second half in a match with implications for the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw next month.

Wales will retain its No. 12 world ranking and Japan No. 13, meaning Japan should get the harder draw with two heavyweight teams in its pool and a harder road to make the 2027 playoffs in Australia.

But another indicator of the steep decline of Wales — a 2023 World Cup quarterfinalist — could be read from having won all five previous home contests with Japan by an average of 50 points.

Wales flyhalf Dan Edwards converted his own soft try to start the match and Kippei Ishida replied for Japan.

Wales couldn't take advantage of yellow cards against Japan forwards Epineri Uluiviti and Faulua Makisi, and ended the first half down a man when winger Josh Adams smashed Dylan Riley, who was on his back at the bottom of a ruck. Adams' yellow card was upgraded to a 20-minute red card.

Seungsin Lee broke the 7-7 halftime deadlock with a penalty to start the see-sawing second half.

Louis Rees-Zammit's 15th test try in his first start since the 2023 World Cup gave Wales its first lead in the 50th minute.

Makisi's try put Japan back in front, then Nick Tompkins, on the field for only a minute, crashed over to send Wales ahead.

Lee's third penalty put Japan on top again but they unravelled with seconds left in regulation.

Replacement lock Harry Hockings' yellow card on debut gave Wales the field position for one last desperate attack, and a no-arms tackle handed Evans his penalty shot.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Wales' Dan Edwards on his way to scoring their side's first goal of the game during the rugby union Nations Series match between Wales and Japan at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

Wales' Nick Tompkins, center, celebrates with a teammate after scoring a try during the rugby union Nations Series match between Wales and Japan at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

Wales' Jarrod Evans, 2nd right, celebrates after the final whistle of the rugby union Nations Series match between Wales and Japan at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)