Inter Miami left it late but managed to salvage a 2-2 draw against New York City FC in their MLS season opener at Chase Park on Saturday.
Playing with 10 men for over an hour, Miami dominated much of the match but needed a 100th-minute equalizer to avoid an opening-day defeat.
Miami Fights Back After Early Red Card
- Miami started strong, with Tomas Aviles tapping in Lionel Messi’s cross just five minutes in after the Argentine executed a clever corner routine.
- However, Aviles was sent off in the 23rd minute for bringing down Alonso Martinez on the edge of the box, denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
- Just three minutes later, Mitja Ilenic equalized for NYCFC, driving a low shot past the keeper after a short free-kick routine.
- Early in the second half, Jordi Alba’s poor pass gifted NYCFC the lead, with Martinez capitalizing on the mistake and slotting past Oscar Ustari.
Segovia Secures a Dramatic Draw
- Both sides wasted chances as the match progressed, with Miami desperately searching for an equalizer.
- In the 100th minute, Javier Mascherano’s substitutions paid off, as Messi played a perfect through ball to Telasco Segovia, who chipped the goalkeeper with a brilliant finish.
The result means Miami at least gets a point from their opening game, despite being at a numerical disadvantage for most of the match.
Data Debrief: Miami’s Patience Pays Off
- Miami controlled the match, despite playing more than an hour with 10 men.
- They created better scoring chances, accumulating 2.55 expected goals (xG) from 14 shots, while NYCFC managed just 0.96 xG from nine attempts.
- Miami has struggled historically against NYCFC, winning just one of their 12 meetings (D4 L7).
- The last four encounters between the two sides have ended in draws.
Final Thoughts
Mascherano couldn’t start his MLS tenure with a win, but Miami showed resilience in their season opener.
With Messi pulling the strings and Segovia making an impact, Miami will look to build on this performance in their upcoming matches.
