This wasn’t Inter Miami’s best team, not by a longshot. That team is still something of a work in progress and, to be fair, any version of a squad without Lionel Messi is incomplete. We saw it last week when the club was embarrassed against the New York Red Bulls.
On Saturday Miami settled for a draw, one which looks both good and bad when looking at the context around it.
Luis Suarez provided Inter Miami’s lone goal in a 1-1 draw with New York City FC, scoring his seventh goal of the season in all competitions. The match was perhaps Inter Miami’s best defensive effort of the season, despite the one goal conceded, which was scored by Alonso Martinez off a bad Jordi Alba giveaway.
An ex-Barcelona star was responsible for goals on both ends, with Suarez notching his and Alba’s mishap setting up NYCFC’s finish on the other end. It was the play of the third Barca legend on the field that stole the show, though, as Sergio Busquets shined in a different role for the Herons
Deployed at centerback to start, Busquets added a new dimension to a previously-porous Herons defense. It’s a look that Tata Martino may just try again in the future, particularly when this Miami team is fully healthy and available.
Despite missing players all over the field, the Herons earned a point. It’ll be disappointing to some, but any point without Messi is decent enough as the Herons look ahead to bigger moments this week with the next round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
GOAL rates Inter Miami’s players from Chase Stadium…
Goalkeeper & Defense
Drake Callender (6/10):
Could have maybe done a bit better on the goal, but it was one-on-one so it is what it is. Other than that, not much to do.
Jordi Alba (5/10):
A bad giveaway on the goal, which puts a damper on an otherwise typical performance from the ex-Barcelona star.
Sergio Busquets (8/10):
Moved back into defense and was absolutely fantastic. Brought some calm to the Inter Miami backline in addition to making one massive tackle early in the second half.
Ryan Sailor (6/10):
A rare start for Sailor, who certainly did his part. Was relatively solid defensively and there wasn’t too much he could have done about the goal, so job well done!
Marcelo Weigandt (7/10):
Basically got off a plane and stepped right onto the field. A good shift from the new fullback, who looks like he can really help this Inter Miami defense.
Midfield
Diego Gomez (6/10):
Not quite as dynamic and influential as he has been in other performances. Not a bad game, but he’s had better.
Yannick Bright (6/10):
Put in a decent shift, which might have gone on for a bit longer if not for a knock early in the second half. While he was on the field, was probably the most assertive of the midfield three.
David Ruiz (7/10):
Was really, really good, particularly in the first half. Composed on the ball and never gave it away, with a few good shots, too.
Attack
Robert Taylor (6/10):
Worked incredibly hard and had a few good moments. Didn’t get a goal contribution, but he did create a few chances that could have led to one.
Luis Suarez (7/10):
Had what felt like a million chances, which makes it hard to believe he only buried one. Still, this felt like a vintage Suarez performance as he harassed the NYCFC backline all night long.
Julian Gressel (7/10):
He’s a dead ball specialist, alright. Gressel was brought in because of the service he can provide, and his free-kick on Suarez’s goal was inch-perfect.
Subs & Manager
Tomas Aviles (6/10):
Came in to replace Bright after his knock. Defended well and was pretty composed with the ball at his feet, too.
Jose Casas de Abadal (6/10):
Came in to replace Gressel, but wasn’t super involved.
Leo Alfonso (6/10):
Had just a few touches after coming in in the 71st minute.
Tata Martino (6/10):
Moving Busquets to centerback worked spectacularly, so credit for that. Still, it felt there was more for the taking against an NYCFC team that has struggled a bit this season. Could the Herons have gone for it more by using someone like Leo Campana and Shanyder Borgelin off the bench?
