Messi’s Miami Yet to Secure First Win at Home Following Stalemate with Energetic New York

A week following their opening match at the venue, where Lionel Messi and Miami were held to a draw by Austin FC, New York’s youthful squad became the latest team to earn points at this location.

The home supporters were silenced within just 15 minutes as 18-year-old striker Julian Hall showcased remarkable skill down the right flank, creating space in the Miami defence.

Hall drew in two defenders before laying the ball off for an unmarked Jorge Ruvalcalba, who calmly finished with a low shot past Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.

Miami equalised just before the half-time whistle, with Argentine forward Matero Silvetti converting from close range after receiving a cross from Rodrigo De Paul.

After the interval, Miami seemed poised to take control, but defender Maxi Falcon missed a golden opportunity to put them ahead, sending a free header wide from De Paul’s corner.

Both Messi and Silvetti squandered chances before Miami took the lead in the 55th minute with a goal from German Berterame, a forward who was born in Argentina but represents Mexico.

Berterame intercepted a deflected pass from New York’s 17-year-old midfielder Adri Mehmeti and struck low to give Miami a 2-1 advantage.

New York thought they had equalised midway through the second half when Robert Voloder bundled a shot in, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR check revealed offside.

The equaliser for New York finally came in the 77th minute, as Hall’s dazzling run inside the box left the Miami defence scrambling before he squared the ball to his fellow teenager Mehmeti, who finished smoothly for 2-2.

Miami pushed hard in the dying moments of the match, and only an extraordinary diving save by Ethan Horvath denied Messi from scoring a late winner with a free kick during stoppage time.

This draw sees Miami sitting third in the Eastern Conference standings, four points adrift of the leaders Nashville, who emerged victorious against Charlotte with a score of 2-1 on Saturday.