Messi’s Miami Left Seeking First Home Victory Following Draw with Emerging New York Side

Just a week after Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were held to the same result against Austin FC in their inaugural match at the new venue, New York’s young squad marked themselves as the latest team to get a result there.

New York stunned the home crowd early on, breaking the deadlock in the 15th minute. Eighteen-year-old striker Julian Hall delivered an impressive run down the right, which unsettled the Miami defence.

Hall distracted two defenders before laying the ball off to an unmarked Jorge Ruvalcalba, who calmly finished low past Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.

However, Miami equalised just before the break when their Argentine forward, Matero Silvetti, found the net from close range, converting Rodrigo De Paul’s cross.

After half-time, Miami appeared to take charge of the match, with defender Maxi Falcon missing a golden opportunity to give them the lead by heading a corner from De Paul wide of the post.

Messi and Silvetti both squandered chances, but Miami finally surged ahead on 55 minutes thanks to German Berterame, a forward born in Argentina but representing Mexico.

Berterame capitalised on a deflected pass from New York’s 17-year-old midfielder Adri Mehmeti, firing a low shot that made it 2-1.

New York thought they had equalised midway through the second half when Robert Voloder nudged the ball home, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside following a VAR check.

The visitors eventually got their equaliser in the 77th minute, when a dazzling run from Hall inside the penalty area bewildered the Miami defence, allowing him to set up fellow teen Mehmeti, who finished expertly for 2-2.

Miami pushed hard for a late winner, and only an incredible diving save by Ethan Horvath denied Messi a last-minute free-kick goal in stoppage time.

This draw leaves Miami sitting third in the Eastern Conference standings, trailing leaders Nashville by four points after their 2-1 victory over Charlotte on Saturday.