Inter Miami vs New York City HIGHLIGHTS, MIA 1-2 NYC: Messi gets two assists and helps team bag a point in MLS opener
Inter Miami vs New York City HIGHLIGHTS, MIA 1-2 NYC: Messi gets two assists and helps team bag a point in MLS opener
Not the ideal start for Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami team in their MLS opener but the Argentine registers two assists and plays a crucial part in his team drawing New York City FC 2-2 at the Chase Stadium.
Messi has wowed the Chase stadium yet again with his magic as he bags his second assist of the night. He goes on an excellent run before threading a perfect through ball for Telasco Segovia, who finds the back of the net with an exquisite chip over Freese to pull his team level.
Redondo finds Messi inside the six-yard box but the latter is tackled from behind before he could get a shot away.
11 minutes added at the end of the second-half
New York City sub: IN- Bakrar OUT- Martinez
There is a VAR check for a possible penalty for Inter Miami after Alba’s cross hits the arm of a sliding defender but the repay shows that the ball hit the defender’s knee first and then up into his arm, which was not in an unnatural position. No penalty!
Big chance – Redondo has missed the best chance of the match and fails to level the cores for Miami. Alba does well to find Redondo with an excellent cutback from the left. Redondo, who is completely free inside the penalty box, misses the target.
Inter Miami almost concede a third but Gonzalo Lujan prevents that with an effective backheel flick.
The Herons give the ball away cheaply again as Martinez squares the ball to Fernandez who is wide open at the far post. However, Lujan prevents the ball from reaching Fernandez with a timely intervention.
New York City sub: IN- Perea OUT- Moralez
A trademark Messi run that sees him dribble three players and win a freekick in a dangerous position. Messi, the obvious choice for the freekick, takes it and forces Freese to make a diving save. The New York City keeper fails to hold on to the ball and spills it which leads to a scramble inside the box. The ball is cleared but Freese takes a knock on his face but he is okay to continue after some medical attention.
New York City subs: IN- Fernandez OUT- Ojeda, O’Toole
Some dangerous play from Miami keeper Ustari as he comes way off his line to clear the ball. Outside the 18-yard box, Ustari almost ends up handling the ball before going for aa effective tackle.
Messi tries to reach the ball after being played an over-the-top pass. He races towards it at full speed but New York keeper Freese wins the race and holds on to the ball, taking a kick from Messi in the process.
Messi goes for a shot from a tight angle despite being squeezed between two defenders but Freese manages to make the save.
New York has made the numerical advantage count and has taken the lead. It is a horrible backpass from Alba who gives it straight to Martinez in the final third. Martinez makes his way inside the box and makes no mistake in burying the ball in the back of the net to score his team’s second.
The onus will be more on Messi and Co. to try and break the deadlock here despite being a goal down.
Inter Miami sub: IN- Redondo OUT- Weigandt
New York City sub: IN- Shore OUT- Tanasijevic
Scores level at 1-1 as the second-half gets underway at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Goals from Aviles and Ilenic keep Inter Miami and New York level at 1-1 as the referee blows his whistle for half-time!
Messi with another excellent pass, this time to Alba inside the box. The Spnaird tries to open the face of his body and find the far corner but his effort is blocked.
Messi slips an excellent through ball for Taylor, who had made a good run inside the box. However, his shot aimed at the far corner is disappointing and New York keeper Matt Freese makes a good save to keep the scores level.
Tanasijević brings down Suarez and the Inter Miami players swarm the referee, demanding that he show a second yellow to the Serbian. However, it will just be a freekick for Inter Miami. Captain Lionel Messi seems to be in an animated discussion with the referee.
Messi tries to control a wayward pass directed at him inside the final third but fails to do so and the Inter Miami attack comes to an end.
New York City booking: Strahinja Tanasijević sees a yellow for his late challenge on Busquets.
A hefty chunk of added time shown at the end of the first-half as the board shows eight minutes.
Inter Miami booking: Cremaschi sees a yellow card for a late challenge. The Herons will need to be careful here. They are already a goal down and a second red card could be disastrous for Messi and Co.
Messi makes an excellent penetrative run and rolls the ball to Alba on his left. The Spaniard tries to find Messi with the cutback but his touch is too heavy and he ends up giving the ball away.
It has been some time since Miami has penetrated the opponent’s final third. Despite being down to 10 men, it is still enjoying more of the ball with 56% possession.
It will be a difficult challenge for Miami now. That red card has taken out all that early momentum that Messi and Co. were enjoying in front of home support and New York seems the likelier team to score.
Martinez almost scores a screamer as he sees Ustari off his line and tries to catch him out from distance. His effort at goal is well-measured but the Inter Miami keeper manages to get a precious touch to send the ball out for a corner.
Inter Miami sub: IN- Fray OUT- Ruiz
New York works out the freekick to perfection – No. 10 Maximiliano Moralez decides against going for the shot and instead passes to Ilenic on the left. Ilenic blasts the ball across the face of the goal from a tight angle and rattles the bottom corner of the net.
Miami’s goalscorer Aviles brings down New York forward Alonso Martinez right at the edge of the Miami box and the referee points to the penalty spot. And since he was the last man, he gets his marching orders from the referee.
Messi slips a good pass to Cresmaschi, who in turn, sends an excellent cross inside the box aimed for Suarez. However, the Uruguayan’s touch is not ideal and ends up skying his effort.
As expected, on paper Messi is shown as the right winger but he is playing a much deeper role on the pitch at the moment and dropping down to find those spaces in order to create chance for the likes of Suarez and Taylor upfront.
It is another dangerous attack stitched by Miami. Busquets plays out a diagonal to Alba on the left. Alba passes first-time to Taylor, who in turn, tries to set up Messi. The Inter Miami captain goes for a first-time shot but is denied by a last-minute block.
Inter Miami sub: IN- Taylor OUT – Picault
As anticipated, Picault cannot carry on and Mascherano has to make an early substitution.
An early worry for Javier Mascherano as forward Fafa Picault has gone down on the ground. He seems to have pulled a muscle in a bid to win the ball. Picault is getting the necessary medical attention but his evening may be cut short.
That is a wonderful team goa for Miami and Messi plays a crucial role. Miami plays out a short corner as Messi plays a square ball to Alba at the centre of the New York box. Alba in turn plays a first-time pass to Messi inside the box and the Argentine has the awareness to spot Aviles’ supporting run. Messi squares the ball to Aviles and it is a simple tap-in for the latter.
Messi has a chance to send Picault through on goal and tries to do so with a first-time pass but the Argentine’s pass is intercepted.
After its 1-0 win against Sporting Kansas City courtesy of a Messi winner, Inter Miami will want to keep the momentum going in its MLS opener against New York.
Inter Miami begins its MLS season as the first-half of its opening match against New York City FC gets underway at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
Played: 11
Inter Miami: 1
Draws: 3
New York City FC: 7
Inter Miami will open its MLS season against New York City FC at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday (Sunday early morning, according to IST).
Lionel Messi’s Miami finished top of the Eastern Conference standings last season but suffered an aggregate loss against Atalanta United in the MLS Cup final. The Herons had a positive start to their season after a 1-0 win in their CONCACAF Champions Cup first-round (first leg) match against Sporting Kansas City courtesy of a strike from Messi.
New York City finished sixth in the Eastern Conference standings last season and will come into the match after a 1-0 win against Minnesota United.
