Lionel Messi delivered a stunning assist and late goal to rally Inter Miami past the New England Revolution, 2-1, and clinch a spot in next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup.

The win also elevated Miami into the driver’s seat for the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs. And it left Messi with 26 goals and 16 assists on the season, putting him in pole position for a historic third straight MLS MVP award and second consecutive golden boot.

An even first 45 minutes saw the sides go into the half scoreless. Inter Miami’s best chance of the half came in the 28th minute through Berterame, with a left-footed shot from the Mexican international from the left end of the box being saved by New England goalkeeper Matt Turner.

The second half then saw the hosts open the scoring in the 53rd minute through a goal from Daniel Gazdag.

Inter Miami equalised in the 69th through a superb team play. Segovia delivered a lobbed pass into the box, where Messi headed the ball back for Berterame to strike with a thumping header from the centre of the box. The goal marked Berterame’s 10th this regular season, while the assist was Messi’s 16th this league campaign.

Inter Miami turned the scoring around in the 83rd minute, with Messi netting the winner after another fantastic passing sequence. Suarez played a ball to Messi in a central position outside the box, where the Argentine maestro made his way past three defenders before combining with Segovia to break into the box and finding the back of the net with a grounded hit to the bottom-right corner.

The goal took Messi’s tally to 26 as he extended his lead in the race for the 2026 MLS Golden Boot, while Segovia reached 12 assists this regular season. The 1-2 scoreline then held through the final whistle for Inter Miami to pick up three points on the road.

New Delhi, Oct 8: Television sports presenter Shefali Bagga, who was under investigation for her alleged role in the Mahadev betting app case, issued a clarification on her involvement in the hight-profile case and said she ‘unknowingly’ promoted the betting app and has co-operated in the investigation with the authorities.

As per the latest Enforcement Directorate (ED) chargesheet, Shefali surrendered Rs 1.20 crore, the balance sum she is accused of receiving to promote betting apps on the Mahadev platform, after being questioned in the case.

“My role was limited to unknowingly promoting a few brands on social media similar to the promotional engagements undertaken by many public figures and celebrities. Beyond this, I had no involvement or association with any other activities or operations relating to those brands or any other entity. I have cooperated with the department’s investigation, surrendered the money and have full faith in our law,” Shefali told media.

According to the chargesheet, the ED found that Shefali had received around Rs 1.5 crore for making promotional videos for the Mahadev betting app syndicate. During the search at her residence in Delhi, ED officials seized Rs 30 lakh in cash, the agency said.

The Mahadev Book, also known as Mahadev Betting App, has emerged as one of the largest online betting platforms in India in recent years. It facilitates illegal betting worth crores of rupees on sports like cricket and football through mobile apps and websites.

The network has spread nationwide and reportedly involves several high-profile individuals. In previous investigations, the ED had seized property worth several crores and arrested individuals connected to the scam.

The Mahadev Betting App has grown into a sprawling illegal enterprise. The ED continues to expand its investigation into this nationwide betting network.

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 28: Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop believes the cricketing fraternity will only fully grasp the sheer magnitude of Virat Kohli’s monumental achievements once the Indian batting maestro calls time on his illustrious playing career.

Tearing into the West Indies bowling attack at the Greenfield International Stadium to give India a comfortable eight-wicket victory in the series opener, Kohli breached the 15,000-run mark in ODIs while making an unbeaten 139 on Sunday, while bringing up his 55th ton in the format – his third-fastest overall. He now stands as only the second player in history to cross 15,000 men’s ODI runs after the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.

“You have to love what you do to evolve as he has done over such a long period of time. I think this puts him in a rarefied atmosphere, given that he has achieved 15,000 runs in 74 fewer innings than the great Sachin Tendulkar, whom I hold in high regard, having played against him.

“Where his legacy will end, he certainly has to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, batter in this format of the game. I mean, this is extraordinary. A lot of these fans watching on television and here on the ground appreciate it, but I don’t think we will fully appreciate it until some time after he concludes his playing days,” Bishop said on JioHotstar.

Bishop, the acclaimed commentator, was particularly left in awe of Kohli’s unmatched consistency and his legendary prowess in acing run-chases. “Virat is different in that respect, the appetite that he has for runs, his calculation of how to chase a total, I think that is unsurpassed in this game.

“Virat has a sense of occasion that he may not confess to, but again, that’s his evolution. I still can’t believe 15,000… I know Sachin got there, but that’s a heck of a lot of runs. So, if I had flowers right now, I’d give them to him because he certainly deserves his flowers,” he added.

Calling on the younger generation of cricketers to draw inspiration from Kohli’s work ethics, Bishop urged players across all disciplines to step outside their comfort zones and constantly refine their skills, regardless of age or experience.

“It’s something that we’re all very aware of, because I have grown tired of hearing players say, ‘This is the way I play,’ and people outside the game saying, ‘When you reach a certain age, you can’t learn new tricks.’

“If I were to take one thing away from what Virat Kohli has been doing over the years, it’s that he’s saying it’s never too late to evolve his attacking game, to adapt to how T20 or white-ball cricket has moved, to develop his power game and hit the number of sixes that he has done here at his age.

“It shows that where there is a will, many times, if you’re smart enough, you will find a way. And if any cricketer can take anything away from this, that is what I want them to remember: don’t stay in your comfort zone. Batter, bowler, fielder, captain, get out of your comfort zone,” he concluded.