Lionel Messi struggles in his first sport at Yankee Stadium as Inter Miami and NYCFC battle to a 1-1 draw within the Bronx

Off the 161st Road cease on the 4 practice within the Bronx, Yankee Stadium’s seats flooded in blue and pink shirts as Lionel Messi and Inter Miami took on New York Metropolis FC on Saturday afternoon.

In the long run, Messi’s subpar outing closed in a 1-1 draw, as New York Metropolis’s James Sands scored his first MLS purpose to close the noise. 

Whereas the spectators got here to get a glimpse of Messi’s greatness, the hosts began the primary half with their foot on the pedal.

The boys in blue had been threatening, decided to spoil Messi’s second. Whereas the sport was scoreless on the intermission, NYCFC outshot Miami 5-3 within the first half.

Moreover, they dimmed Messi’s mild within the first 45 minutes. Aside from a free-kick try that went large early on, the Argentine couldn’t appear to work his magic in opposition to the Pigeons’ protection.

NYCFC would come out of the tunnel weapons blazing, manufacturing two photographs inside the first 5 minutes of the second stanza.

As a nearly-sold out stadium started to fizzle out with Messi’s left foot failing to supply moments, he began the play that opened the scoring within the seventy fifth minute.

Messi threaded a ball all the way down to Jordi Alba, who squared it to Leo Campana for the purpose – minutes after being subbed into the competition.

Miami seemed to trip the slender lead into the ultimate whistle when Sands discovered the again of the web within the dying minutes. NYCFC’s nightmare routine of dropping video games close to the top throughout promising performances held sturdy up till Sands’ heroics got here to the rescue.

Within the closing minute of stoppage time, Sands’ head discovered a nook kick from Santi Rodriguez. In consequence, what was a pro-Messi crowd started cheering for NYCFC. 

The house crew completed the sport with 17 photographs and 4 on track. In the meantime, Messi and Miami had been held to 6 makes an attempt with two hitting the body. The possession was practically cut up in half with Miami controlling 53 p.c after 90 minutes and alter.  

Chatting with media submit sport, NYCFC head coach Nick Cushing addressed the group of 44,738 crowd that got here to see Messi play.

‘I hope they loved the sport,’ Cushing stated. ‘I hope they see the extent of the league is basically thrilling. Two groups each attacking one another. I used to be proud that we created probabilities within the sport. 

‘One factor I’ll say is, our assist part and each New York Metropolis fan that got here tonight pushed us to the top. They supported us by the sport, they gave us life and vitality.’  

The draw moved the Herons to 20-7-4, as they proceed to guide the Japanese Convention with 67 factors.

Then again, New York has prolonged their winless streak to 9 video games, sitting sixth with an 11-8-11 file and 41 factors.

When requested about splitting factors with the perfect crew in MLS, Cushing stated ‘[The points] have the identical worth on the league desk. However the inspiration and the assumption that it might offer you, getting a degree in opposition to a crew which might be far out in entrance. 

‘This may be the catalyst,’ Cushing added. ‘As a result of I consider in each man in that locker room, each employees member, and each fan that wore blue tonight.’ 

NYCFC hope to depart with three factors once they return from throughout the Hudson River on September 28 in opposition to the New York Crimson Bulls. 

Then again, Messi and Miami will shut their season in opposition to Charlotte at residence.