Lionel Messi showcased his exceptional playmaking skills during a match at Yankee Stadium, helping Inter Miami take the lead against New York City FC. After receiving a pass from defender Federico Redondo, Messi quickly linked up with Jordi Alba, who then assisted Leo Campana’s goal in the 75th minute. This goal marked Campana’s 31st for Inter Miami, making him the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
However, the match ended in a dramatic 1-1 draw when NYCFC’s James Sands scored a last-minute header from a corner kick in the 95th minute. This was Sands’ first career goal, coming in his 117th professional appearance, which denied Inter Miami a potential win.
Despite the draw, Inter Miami remains at the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings with 64 points. The team is aiming for at least three victories in its last four regular-season matches to challenge the MLS record of 73 points set by the New England Revolution in 2021.
After the game, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino expressed frustration with the officiating, particularly regarding a foul on midfielder Yannick Bright that he believed should have been called. Martino stated, “I think we played a good game and we should have won. If the referee had called the foul on Yannick Bright, we would have won.”
The match had a heated atmosphere, starting with NYCFC fans greeting Inter Miami’s team bus with hostility. Tensions escalated between Messi and NYCFC defender Thiago Martins, leading to several yellow cards being issued. Inter Miami received a total of nine yellow cards and one red card to an assistant coach during the match.
The game was initially scoreless at halftime, despite some close attempts from both teams. New York City FC’s Hannes Wolf missed a crucial shot in the second half, while Messi made several attempts at scoring but was unable to convert. Ultimately, the thrilling match ended with a share of the points as both teams battled fiercely from start to finish.