Inter Miami kicked off their Major League Soccer season with a dramatic 2-2 home draw against New York City FC on Saturday, as Lionel Messi’s last-gasp assist ensured a share of the spoils.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Miami, who set a regular-season points record last year before an early playoff exit, played most of the match with 10 men after defender Tomás Avilés received a straight red card.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Messi played a pivotal role, setting up both of Miami’s goals—including a crucial equalizer deep into stoppage time.
A Promising Start Turns Sour
With new head coach Javier Mascherano making his MLS debut, Miami introduced several fresh faces but struggled to find cohesion. However, the night started on a high note as Messi set up Avilés for the opener in the fifth minute.
Miami’s early momentum was soon disrupted. Forward Fafa Picault limped off with an apparent muscle injury in the 10th minute, and 13 minutes later, Avilés was sent off for bringing down Alonso Martínez on the edge of the box.
New York quickly capitalized on the ensuing free kick, as Maxi Moralez found an unmarked Mitja Ilenič, who slotted home to level the score.
Defensive Woes and a Costly Error
With a makeshift central defense pairing of Noah Allen and Ian Fray, Miami struggled to contain New York’s attack. The visitors took the lead in the 55th minute when Jordi Alba gifted a loose pass straight to Martínez, who raced forward and coolly finished past Oscar Ustari.
Miami had few clear-cut chances, with Matt Freese denying a Messi free-kick and Federico Redondo firing wide after a good setup from Alba.
Messi’s Magic Saves Miami
Just when it seemed Miami would suffer a season-opening defeat, Messi delivered a moment of brilliance in the 100th minute. The Argentine maestro threaded a perfect through ball to Telasco Segovia, who dinked his finish over Freese to rescue a point.
“He’s the soul of this team,” Mascherano said of Messi. “You saw it again with what he did at the end.”
Elsewhere in MLS
- Emmanuel Latte Lath scored twice on his debut for Atlanta United, leading them to a 3-2 win over Montreal.
- Philadelphia Union impressed under new coach Bradley Carnell, beating Orlando City 4-2, with Israeli forward Tai Baribo netting twice.
- Cincinnati secured a 1-0 win over the New York Red Bulls thanks to a debut goal from Togo international Kevin Denkey.
- Diego Rossi bagged a brace for Columbus Crew in their 4-2 win over Chicago Fire, spoiling Gregg Berhalter’s first match in charge.
- On Sunday, defending champions LA Galaxy host expansion side San Diego FC.
