Inter Miami of 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 already caressing victory.
A header from a last-gasp corner gave New York City the equalizer after the Ecuadorian Leonardo Campana would have put Inter Miami ahead in the 75th minute.
Messi, the attraction
With many Messi fans and a great atmosphere in the stands of Yankee Stadium, the team he leads Gerardo Martino had a weak and discreet match but remains the leader of the East with 64 points and as a clear favorite to win the MLS Supporters’ Shield, the title for the best MLS team in the regular season.
The Florida team landed in the Big Apple with all its stars except Sergio Busquets and Diego Gómez. Along with Messi they were also starters Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba.
NY City FC, stung
With three losses and five draws in its previous eight MLS games, including a painful 1-5 loss to the Philadelphia Union last Wednesday, New York City started out eager to right the ship.
The Uruguayan Santi Rodriguez He was very playful from the start, first with a cross shot and then with a dangerous one. a direct free kick that ended up hitting the post.
Inter Miami misses Busquets
Inter Miami struggled to get into the game. Except for a foul by Messi that almost reached the top corner, The pink set took a while to settle into the green and he missed Busquets in the engine room.
However, towards the middle of the first part the stars began to appear: Messi searched for and almost found an Olympic goal and Suarez did not open the scoring because his shot, which was going into the net, was intercepted accidentally by his partner Robert Taylor.
First half without goals
But overall both teams looked confident and focused on defense – especially New York City, with constant help to nullify Messi, and the match went into the break scoreless.
Keaton Parks, One of New York City’s standouts in the first half, he had a golden opportunity in the second half after a serious error by Ian Fray but the burly midfielder was not skillful in front of goal.
Forgive the locals
The Costa Rican also tried it Alonso Martinez from outside the area as the home team replicated the same intense start from the first in the second half.
Instead, Inter Miami came out asleep, without electricity in attack -Messi and Suárez continued to be imprecise- and with more and more gaps at the back.
It seemed like New York City’s moment, but it was still aiming away and Hannes Wolf missed another chance in the 61st minute.
On the other side, Inter Miami began to lose control. The referee gave the visitors four yellow cards in five minutes, and he had no problem handing out the cards. In addition to cautioning Suárez and Alba, he also sent off one of Martino’s assistants for protesting.
Messi-Alba connection in the 0-1
The match seemed destined to end in a draw but an isolated and perfect connection between Messi and Jordi Alba On the left wing he laid off a goal for Campana in the 75th minute.
New York City took the hit and continued to miss opportunity after opportunity, one of which was a very clear one. Santi Rodriguez in 87.
But when Inter Miami already seemed to have the three points in their pocket, Sands soared with a fantastic header to rescue a late draw for New York City.
Martino complains about the referee
After the match, Martino criticised the referee. “I don’t know if the team lacked something. I would say that the match lacked a good referee,” he said, complaining that the equaliser in extra time was preceded by a foul by NY City FC.
“I think we played a good game and we should have won. If the referee or the VAR had called the terrible foul on Yannick Bright at the end of the game, we would have won 1-0,” Martino said.
Technical data 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, Tomas Aviles, Noah Allen (Sergii Kryvstov, m.94), Jordi Alba; Julian Gressel (Benjamin Cremaschi, m. 81), Federico Redondo, Yannick Bright, Robert Taylor (Leonardo Campana, m. 72); Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi.
Coach: Gerardo Martino.
Goals: 0-1, m. 75: Bell; 1-1, m. 95: Sands.
Referee: Jon Freemon. He cautioned Tanasijevic, Rodríguez, Parks and Moralez in New York City and Fray, Alba, Avilés, Allen and Suárez in Inter Miami.
Incidents: Matchday 34 of the MLS played at Yankee Stadium in New York.
