Lionel Messi returned to the starting lineup for Inter Miami for the first time at the legendary Yankee Stadium for Saturday’s match against New York City, but even with that, his team could not avoid being tied again in the last minute.
In a very close match, Inter drew 1-1 against NYC to earn another important point on the way to winning the Supporter’s Shield.
Although the Miami team has not lost, it has only been able to get two points on the road since Messi’s return, which he says reflects how competitive the MLS is.
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It wasn’t Messi’s best game, and it’s clear that he still has a bit to do to be at his best. However, the only goal for Inter Miami was scored by Leonardo Campana (75′), which explains by itself how important the “Messi” is to the team.
With the tie, Inter (19-7-4) continued to lead the Eastern Conference with 64 points, 9 ahead of second-place Cincinnati, who later faced Nashville.
Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s team has four games left and could even secure first place if they win the next round, provided their immediate rivals don’t do so, but more than that, it’s time to start preparing for the playoffs, where they can’t allow themselves to be scored on in the final minutes.
In all fairness, despite Miami dominating (53%), City deserved the draw for having sought the rival goal more with many more shots (17-6) and twice as many inside (4-2).
Although Martino started with Messi and Suarez, he was unable to count on Sergio Busquets (personal reasons) or Mario Gomez (injured) for this match, and he also made some changes to the starting eleven, giving Marcelo Weigandt and Sergio Kryvtsov a rest.
Hanging out with Drake Callender, Ian Fray, Tomas Aviles, Noah Allen, Jordi Alba, Julian Gressel, Jannick Bright, Federico Redondo, Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and Robert Taylor.
The first half ended 0-0 despite both teams trying as hard as they could, and it could be said that both defenses prevailed. Miami had more possession (58.8%), but it was New York who shot more (5-3) and also had the only shot on target.
Inter managed to shake off City’s dominance during the first 15 minutes and took control of the match, with Messi doing his thing, albeit with a slower pace and always surrounded by Citizens players.
The Miami team made several very good attacking plays, but their shots were repeatedly blocked, even by Taylor himself. However, NYC’s shots were also well blocked, without Callender having to make one of his usual saves this time.
And in the second half, the goals came, after another hard-fought 45 minutes.
The first was for Inter, who had to wait until the 75th minute for Messi to float the ball. Leo received a pass from Redondo in midfield and advanced close to the area to pass it to Alba who was coming in from the left so he could serve a low pass to the center for Leo Campana, who had just come on and finished with his left foot into the net.
It was 1-0 for Inter, who in addition to the successful substitution of Campana for Robert Taylor, replaced Gressel with Benjamin Cremaschi.
But in stoppage time (95′), when it seemed they had the win in their pocket, in a corner taken by Santiago Rodriguez, James Sands beat Aviles in the jump and connected a masterful header to the first post to tie the match 1-1, doing justice to what happened on the field, and there was no time for more.
Inter’s next match will be on Saturday, September 28 against Charlotte at Chase Stadium and there could be a party.
