FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A verbal altercation between New York City FC and Inter Miami early in the first half helped to throw the visitors from the five boroughs out of whack and several minutes later, the Lionel Messi-led home side had taken a 2-0 lead.

While it wasn’t the ultimate reason that NYCFC’s season came to an end in the Eastern Conference Finals, the bit of gamesmanship helped set the tone for the chippy first half of the 5-1 loss to Inter Miami.

The shoving match that included Messi and fellow Argentine Maxi Moralez getting into each other’s faces went on for several minutes.

Referee Jon Freemon breaks up an altercation during NYCFC’s season-ending loss to Inter Miami. Getty Images

Things are getting chippy as Inter Miami players tussle with NYC players pic.twitter.com/j

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