MLS: Inter Miami Snatches Last-Minute Equaliser Against New York City FC

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami encountered a rocky start to the new Major League Soccer season, settling for a 2-2 draw at home against New York City FC on Saturday.

Last year’s record-setting regular-season points champions, Miami faced an uphill challenge for much of the match after Argentine defender Tomas Aviles was shown a red card.

Messi played a pivotal role, assisting both of Miami’s goals, including the crucial equaliser in the 10th minute of stoppage time.

With new head coach Javier Mascherano at the helm for his MLS debut, replacing compatriot Gerardo Martino, Miami showcased several fresh faces yet struggled with cohesion and structure throughout the contest.

The evening began positively for Miami, taking an early lead in the fifth minute when Messi curled a corner to Jordi Alba, who returned a pinpoint diagonal pass. Aviles then finished the move off with a calm slot into the net.

However, things swiftly turned for the MLS Cup favourites.

New signing Fafa Picault was forced off in the 10th minute due to what looked like a muscle injury, which set the tone for the evening’s misfortunes.

Things escalated further when, in the 23rd minute, Aviles received a straight red card for taking down Alonso Martinez at the edge of the penalty area.

From the resulting free-kick, Maxi Moralez exploited Miami’s defensive disarray, slipping a pass to unmarked Slovenian Mitja Ilenic, who coolly finished into the bottom corner.

Patchwork defence

Miami’s makeshift and inexperienced central pairing of Noah Allen and Ian Fray struggled to assert control over the game, although substitute Robert Taylor did force New York’s goalkeeper, Matt Freese, into a solid save just before halftime.

New York sensed an opportunity for an upset and were overjoyed when they took the lead in the 55th minute, courtesy of an error from Alba. The former Barcelona and Spain left-back’s misplaced pass fell directly to Martinez, who took full advantage and calmly slotted it past Oscar Ustari.

Messi found himself starved of quality service and received little support from the largely unproductive Luis Suarez, who was substituted just four minutes after New York’s second goal.

Freese denied Messi from a free-kick, and Alba later set up Federico Redondo with a perfect pull-back, only for the midfielder to misfire wide.

But in the 10th minute of stoppage time, Messi delivered the moment of brilliance Miami desperately needed, threading a perfectly weighted pass to Telasco Segovia, who elegantly lifted the ball over Freese to secure the equaliser.