A 15th minute goal from Luis Suarez earned Inter Miami a point Saturday evening against NYCFC in a tightly-contested Eastern Conference clash.
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The Herons rolled out a makeshift defense, featuring Sergio Busquets at left center-back and new signing Marcelo Weigandt from the start just three days after the defender arrived at the club. With nine players missing due to injury – including Lionel Messi – they were up against it from the start.
Things began on a high note for Miami, with Luis Suarez opening the scoring just 15 minutes into the match with a tidy header off a set piece. NYCFC countered 20 minutes later though, equalizing through Alonso Martinez in the 35th minute.
The two sides then battled it out in a contested matchup over the next 55+ minutes, with each team controlling different portions of the match. However, neither could find the back of the net and claim a winner, with both sides settling for a 1-1 draw.
DID YOU KNOW?
In his first five games with Inter Miami, Julian Gressel notched five assists, including the Heron’s opener Saturday.
THE MVP
Julian Gressel: He filled in for Messi magnificently, registering his fifth assist of the campaign while handling set piece duty with ease. He has not struggled to adapt since arriving in Miami this offseason from the Columbus Crew, and fits in perfectly with Tata Martino’s system. His role in the match will be overshadowed by Suarez’s goal, but Gressel did exactly everything the was asked of him across 76 minutes.
THE BIG LOSER
The Inter Miami defense: It’s been the biggest non-Messi storyline around the Herons in 2024, from preseason woes to recent performances where their backline was highlighted to be an issue.
Saturday night saw backup Ryan Sailor partner with Sergio Busquets centrally, and although their performance was heroic, it’s not a suitable option for them at the MLS level. With Federico Redondo out for nearly two months, they needed Busquets in the center of the pitch. Ahead of their next match, they’ll need to reevaluate their options on the backline if they want to earn a result.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
The Herons return to CONCACAF Champions Cup action this week, where they’ll take on Liga MX powerhouse Monterrey, and USMNT striker Brandon Vazquez, in leg one of their series. The match is a target return date for Lionel Messi, as well, with Tata Martino sharing prior to the international break that the CCC match was the game they want him back for.
