Inter Miami Lionel Messi tied this Saturday 1-1 against New York City FC after conceding a goal in the 95th minute of James Sands when he was close to victory.
A last-gasp header from a corner gave New York City a draw after the Ecuadorian Leonardo Campana would put Inter Miami ahead in the 75th minute.
Messi, the attraction
With Messi’s many followers and a great atmosphere in the stands of Yankee Stadium, the team led by Gerardo Martino He has a weak and cautious game but remains the leader of the East with 64 points and remains the favorite to win the MLS Supporters’ Shield, the title for the best MLS team in the regular season.
The Florida team made it to the Big Apple with all its stars except for Sergio Busquets and Diego Gómez. Together with Messi they are also the starters Luis Suárez and Jordi Alba.
NY City FC, stung
With three losses and five draws in their past eight MLS games, including a painful 1-5 against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, New York City began looking to correct course.
The Uruguayan Santi Rodriguez He was very spicy from the start, first with a cross shot and then with a dangerous one direct foul that ended up hitting the post.
Inter Miami misses Busquets
Inter Miami struggled to get into the game. Removing the foul on Messi who touched the squad, The pink dress took a while to settle into the green and he missed Busquets in the engine room.
However, towards the equator of the first part the stars begin to appear: Messi looked for and almost found an Olympic goal and Suárez did not open the scoring because his shot, which went into the net, was accidentally blocked of his companion Robert Taylor.
First half no goals
But overall both teams are confident and focused on defense – especially in New York City, in continued help to nullify Messi, and the match went into half-time goalless.
Keaton Parks one of New York City’s most outstanding players in the first half, had a golden opportunity after a serious mistake by Ian Fry but the muscular midfielder is not adept in front of goal.
The locals forgave
The Costa Rican tried it too Alonso Martinez from outside the area as the home team replicated the same intense start of the first in the second half.
instead, Inter Miami came out sleeping, no electricity in attack -Messi and Suárez continue to be imprecise- and have more space at the back.
It’s like New York City’s moment, but the focus is still diverted and Hannes Wolf misses another chance in the 61st minute.
On the other side, Inter Miami began to unhinge. Four yellow cards in five minutes were shown to the guests by the referee, who, without any problem removing the cards, Besides reprimanding Suárez and Alba, he also fired one of Martino’s assistants for protesting.
Messi-Alba connection at 0-1
The match seemed destined to end in a draw but a separate and perfect connection between Messi and Jordi Alba on the left wing he left the goal on a plate for Campana in the 75th minute.
New York City took the blow and continued to miss chance after chance as a clear one Santi Rodriguez in ’87.
But just when Inter Miami seemed to have three points in their pocket, Sand rose with amazing header to salvage a last-minute draw for New York City.
Martino’s complaint about the referee
After the match, Martino criticized the referee. “I don’t know if the team lacked something. I would say that the game lacked a good referee,” he said and complained that the tying goal in added time was preceded by a foul by NY City FC.
“I think we played a good game and we should have won. If in the final play the referee or the VAR called for the terrible foul they made against Yannick Bright we would have won one to zero,” said Martino.
Technical sheet
New York City: Matt Freese; Tayvon Gray (Mitja Ilenic, d. 81); Thiago Martins, Strahinja Tanasijevic, Kevin O’Toole (Christian McFarlane, m.88); James Sands, Keaton Parks (Andrés Perea, m.81); Hannes Wolf (Julián Fernández, d. 88), Maxi Moralez, Santi Rodríguez; Alonso Martínez (Monsef Makrar, d.81).
Coach: Nick Cushing
Inter Miami: Drake Callender; Ian Fray, Tomás Avilés, Noah Allen (Sergii Kryvstov, m.94), Jordi Alba; Julian Gressel (Benjamin Cremaschi, d. 81), Federico Redondo, Yannick Bright, Robert Taylor (Leonardo Campana, d. 72); Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi.
Coach: Gerardo Martino.
Goals: 0-1, m. 75: Bell; 1-1, m. 95: Sands.
Referee: Jon Freeman. He warned Tanasijevic, Rodríguez, Parks and Moralez at New York City and Fray, Alba, Avilés, Allen and Suárez at Inter Miami.
Incidents: matchday 34 of MLS played at Yankee Stadium in New York.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
