Inter Miami and NYCFC Draw 1-1 in Last-Minute Thriller at Yankee Stadium

In a high-stakes Major League Soccer (MLS) game at Yankee Stadium, Inter Miami CF’s clash with New York City FC (NYCFC) resulted in a thrilling 1-1 draw. The match, played on Saturday afternoon, was highlighted by a last-minute equalizer from NYCFC’s James Sands.

Lionel Messi, the global football icon, provided a moment of brilliance that set up Inter Miami’s opening goal. After receiving a pass from defender Federico Redondo, Messi orchestrated a swift move, finding Jordi Alba, who then assisted Leo Campana to score in the 75th minute. This goal marked Campana’s franchise-leading 31st career goal with Inter Miami.

The late drama unfolded in the 95th minute when James Sands scored his first career goal, a header from a corner kick, securing a draw for NYCFC. Sands, a native of Rye, New York, picked the perfect moment in his 117th career appearance to deny Inter Miami a victory.

The match was not without controversy, as Inter Miami coach Tata Martino expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating, particularly a missed foul call on midfielder Yannick Bright preceding the final goal. “I think we played a good game and we should have won,” Martino commented. “If the referee had called the foul on Yannick Bright, we would have won.”

The competitive atmosphere was evident even before the game began, with NYCFC fans greeting Inter Miami’s team bus with chants and gestures. On the field, tensions flared between Messi and NYCFC defender Thiago Martins, resulting in a series of yellow cards. Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba and Tomas Aviles were also cautioned during the heated exchanges, and an Inter Miami assistant coach received a red card for misconduct.

Despite the draw, Inter Miami maintained their position atop the Supporters’ Shield standings with 64 points. The team aims to secure three more wins in their final four regular-season games to challenge the MLS record for most points in a season, set by the New England Revolution in 2021 at 73 points.

The game attracted an energetic crowd to Yankee Stadium, eager to witness Messi’s performance, and while he did not score, his influence on the game was undeniable. The smaller pitch dimensions of the stadium posed challenges for the players, impacting their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities.