March 22, (THEWILL) — A Micael header settled a five-goal contest at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, with Inter Miami defeating New York City FC 3-2 to move into third place in the Eastern Conference standings.
The result extended Javier Mascherano’s side’s unbeaten MLS run to four matches, coming three days after their midweek elimination from the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Gonzalo Lujan gave the visitors an early advantage in the third minute, tucking a first-time finish into the bottom corner after Telasco Segovia’s effort was blocked into his path.
Nicolas Fernandez pulled New York level 14 minutes later, bending a free-kick against the underside of the crossbar and into the net. Lionel Messi twice struck the woodwork before the interval, his second attempt a curling effort from inside the area that rattled the top of the bar.
Pascal Jansen’s hosts capitalised on those reprieves just before the hour, with Agustin Ojeda curling home after Maxi Moralez’s incisive pass split the Miami defence. Within two minutes, however, Messi’s long-range free-kick took a sharp deflection off a New York defender in the wall and crept past goalkeeper Matt Freese.
Micael then delivered the decisive blow, expertly heading Noah Allen’s cross from the back post into the far corner to claim all three points for Miami.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
