Inter Miami’s hopes for a spot in the MLS playoffs were dashed on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by New York City FC. The absence of injured star player Lionel Messi proved to be a significant setback for Miami, who struggled to create scoring opportunities without the Argentine. Miami’s lackluster performance was compounded by the absence of Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba, who is also nursing an injury.
The game remained goalless for much of the match, with both teams struggling to find the back of the net. However, in the 77th minute, New York’s Santiago Rodriguez produced a moment of brilliance as he skillfully controlled a long ball from Tayvon Gray and evaded two Miami defenders before firing a powerful shot into the near post.
Miami’s offensive woes continued, failing to register a single shot on target during the entire 90 minutes. However, in the dying moments of stoppage time, defender Tomas Aviles rose to the occasion and headed in a corner from Robert Taylor, salvaging a draw for the home side. Miami came agonizingly close to securing a late winner when David Ruiz’s effort struck the underside of the crossbar.
Currently sitting in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, Miami is four points behind the ninth-placed Montreal, who hold the final playoff spot. However, Miami has a game in hand over their Canadian rivals, offering a glimmer of hope for their postseason aspirations.
Regarding Lionel Messi’s injury, Miami head coach Gerardo Martino stated that the star player has been training separately from the team but is gradually improving his fitness. There is uncertainty surrounding Messi’s availability for Miami’s upcoming match against Chicago, as the coaching staff will assess whether the risk of aggravating the injury is too great.
In other MLS action, FC Cincinnati secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference by defeating Toronto, while Nashville secured a playoff berth with a draw against Seattle. D.C. United, led by Wayne Rooney, is level on points with Montreal after a 2-2 draw against Vancouver.
A night of celebration awaited FC Cincinnati, as their victory over Toronto earned them the Supporters’ Shield for finishing the regular season with the best record. This marks the first trophy for Cincinnati since joining MLS in 2019. Cincinnati had previously finished at the bottom of the league in their first three seasons.
Other notable results include St. Louis City’s 4-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City, the Portland Timbers’ 3-3 draw against the Los Angeles Galaxy, and 15-year-old Julian Hall’s debut for the New York Red Bulls.
With the MLS regular season reaching its climax, teams are battling for playoff spots and attempting to secure their positions in the postseason. As injuries and form fluctuations shape the final standings, fans eagerly anticipate the thrilling matches yet to come.
