news

New York City FC vs Inter Miami score, highlights

Vaseline September 21, 2024

All Lionel Messi needed was an open lane to make a pass up the field. Two quick passes later, Inter Miami found the back of the net. And the fans in a packed Yankee Stadium cheered loudly after the best player in soccer, not baseball, shone.

However, most of them will probably go home with a good feeling, with the last goal and the exciting denouement in mind.

New York City FC’s James Sands scored a header from a corner kick in the 95^and minute, resulting in a 1-1 draw between Messi and Inter Miami on Saturday afternoon. It was the first goal of Sands’ career, as the Rye, New York native scored the most opportune moment in the 117^and match of his career to score.

The score spoiled a 1-0 victory for Inter Miami, despite Messi’s brilliant play.

It wasn’t much, but Messi was given a clearance by defender Federico Redondo about three-quarters of the way down the pitch, opening up the passing lanes for Inter Miami after spending most of the afternoon stuck in traffic.

Messi passed the ball to Jordi Alba, who found a pursuing Leo Campana for a goal in the 75th minute.^and minute. It is Campana’s franchise-leading 31^st goal for Inter Miami. Messi trails the club with 27 career goals.

Still, Inter Miami came away with a point, extending its lead in the Supporters’ Shield standings to 64 points. Inter Miami needs at least three wins in its last four regular-season games to equal the MLS record for points in a season, 73 points set by New England Revolution in 2021.

Inter Miami coach Tata Martino criticised the refereeing during the match after the game, including what he said was a missed foul on midfielder Yannick Bright just before the final goal.

“I think we played a good game and we should have won,” Martino said. “If the referee had called the foul on Yannick Bright, we would have won.”

The match was tense early on, with NYCFC fans crowding the Inter Miami team bus with middle fingers and chants upon arrival at the stadium.

Messi and NYCFC defender Thiago Martins, a 29-year-old Brazilian central defender, came to blows, leading to a flurry of yellow cards in the second half.

Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba pressured Martins to challenge Messi, and defender Tomas Aviles persisted in his action, but both were shown yellow cards.

Shortly after, an Inter Miami assistant coach was shown a straight red card and sent off the bench after defender Noah Allen was booked for a foul. Sergio Rodriguez’s subsequent free kick hit the wall of defenders, but Luis Suarez was then booked for a collision with NYCFC’s Hannes Wolf.

During the match, nine yellow cards were shown (excluding the red card for the Inter Miami coach), of which Inter Miami received five.

“The team lacked nothing, but the game lacked a good referee,” said Martino.

A header from James Sands from a corner kick in the final minutes of this match helped NYCFC equalize in this match against Inter Miami.

Inter Miami have made their breakthrough and Lionel Messi was the catalyst.

Messi saw Jordi Alba shoot down the left and Alba saw Leo Campana run through the middle, resulting in the first goal of the game.

Inter Miami takes a 1-0 lead over NYCFC as Campana scores his franchise-leading 31 points^st goal in the 75^and minute.

Messi and NYCFC’s 29-year-old Brazilian central defender Thiago Martins got into a fight, resulting in two yellow cards.

Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba urged Martins to challenge Messi, and defender Tomas Aviles remained persistent in his action.

Shortly afterwards, an Inter Miami assistant coach was shown a straight red card and sent off the bench after defender Noah Allen was shown a yellow card for a foul.

Santiago Rodriguez’s free kick hit the wall of defenders, but Luis Suarez was subsequently booked for colliding with NYCFC’s Hannes Wolf.

New York City FC come to the net in the second half, but Hannes Wolf can’t convert his shot in the 61.^st minute.

It’s a scoreless affair in the Bronx, but the Yankee Stadium crowd is electric. They’ve been reveling in Lionel Messi’s performance at the venue, but haven’t had their Messi moment yet.

Messi came close to scoring a free kick and a corner early in the game, and Inter Miami missed a great chance when Robert Taylor got in the path of Luis Suarez’s shot in the first half. NYCFC’s Santiago Rodriguez also missed two chances early on.

Messi and Inter Miami found it difficult to navigate the smaller field dimensions of Yankee Stadium, but perhaps they will get a better handle on it in the second half.

Messi had an opening toward the goal, but he was unable to get a shot off after several dribbles in front of an NYCFC defender. It’s unclear whether the grass surface he was dribbling on, placed over the Yankees’ infield, was a factor in Messi’s failure to get the shot off in time, or if the defender simply stepped into Messi’s path to make a pass.

Luis Suarez’s open shot was blocked when teammate Robert Taylor ran towards the shot during a tense sequence. Here’s the miss:

After a failed attack by Robert Taylor in the 21^st At one point, Lionel Messi took a corner kick that NYCFC goalie Matt Freeze had to catch in front of the net.

Messi has never scored an Olimpico, a goal from a corner kick, in a professional game. But he came close, given the smaller field dimensions of Yankee Stadium.

NYCFC’s Santiago Rodriguez missed a free kick off the right post, which then struck the head of Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender. But this match is still scoreless.

One thing you can say about the crowd at Yankee Stadium: it’s amazing.

Just a little bit outside.

Messi was lined up for a free kick after a NYCFC handball, and his shot looked to be on target. But it flew right of the net. Still, it was an early, electric moment of the match at Yankee Stadium.

Yes, Messi is expected to play, Inter Miami assistant coach Javi Morales confirmed on Friday. He is in Inter Miami’s starting lineup.

Messi has been announced as a starter for Inter Miami’s match against New York City.

Messi scores a goal with an assist, Luis Suarez finds the net and Julian Gressel scores a third in a 3-0 shutout for Inter Miami against NYCFC. – Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter

Messi returns to New York area

Although today’s game is being played at Yankee Stadium, Messi returns to the New York area after playing two Copa America games at MetLife Stadium in late June/July.

Messi’s corner kick led to the goal in the 1–0 group stage win over Chile on 25 June, and Messi scored his only goal in the Copa America against Canada in the semi-finals on 9 July.

Inter Miami Leads MLS Standings

Inter Miami remain atop the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings with 63 points. If Inter Miami win the Supporters’ Shield before the MLS Cup playoffs begin, it would be the club’s second title of the Messi era. And it could be the catalyst for their third, following last year’s Leagues Cup title, shortly after Messi joined the team.

Beckham talks to Messi ahead of NYCFC match

It’s been over a year since Lionel Messi played in Major League Soccer, and Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham is still impressed with the club’s acquisition of the Argentine world champion.

“I think, speaking from my experience and my family’s experience, that’s what Leo was all about. He was, all he was interested in was a place where his family could enjoy themselves and have a great life. And, and that was, that was really important to Leo,” Beckham said, speaking at Stella Artois’ “Let’s Do Dinner” event in New York on Thursday.