Messi, Miami frustrated by New York late leveler
Inter Miami’s push for Major League Soccer’s single-season points record hit a stumbling block on Saturday as a dramatic injury-time equalizer from James Sands salvaged a 1-1 draw for New York City FC.
Miami, already secure in their post-season spot, seemed to be cruising to their 20th win of the season after Lionel Messi orchestrated a 75th-minute goal for Ecuadorian forward Leonardo Campana at Yankee Stadium. Messi’s clever pass found Jordi Alba in space on the left, and the former Barcelona star set up Campana for a simple finish to give Miami a 1-0 lead.
However, victory slipped from Miami’s grasp when New York defender Sands rose high to meet a perfectly delivered corner from Santiago Rodriguez in the fifth minute of stoppage time, thumping a powerful header past Herons goalkeeper Drake Callender. The late strike was a blow to Miami’s hopes of breaking the New England Revolution’s 2021 record of 73 points in a single season.
The draw leaves Miami on 64 points from 30 games, meaning Gerardo Martino’s side must now take nine points from their final four matches to tie the record, and 10 points to break it. Despite conceding late, Miami could have few complaints, as New York deserved their share of the points after creating the better chances throughout the game.
New York had multiple opportunities to take the lead before Miami’s goal but were undone by wasteful finishing. Messi was lively early on, nearly scoring with a curling free-kick in the fourth minute, but it was the home side who came closest when Rodriguez’s 11th-minute free-kick struck the post and nearly deflected off Callender into the net. Keaton Parks also missed a glaring chance in the 47th minute, firing wide with the goal at his mercy.
Miami’s eventual breakthrough came against the run of play, with Messi launching a swift counterattack that ended with Campana’s goal. However, Sands’ last-minute header ensured that New York City FC grabbed a deserved point from the contest, leaving Miami with a more challenging path to set a new MLS points record.
