Inter Miami won 2-3 at the home of New York City FC in an MLS 2026 match starring Lionel Messi, who scored a goal and shot the post twice, and helped ‘Las Garzas’ end their losing streak after being eliminated from the ConcaChampions in the round of 16 against Nashville.
Thus Inter Miami returned to the path of victory and licked its wounds from the early elimination in the round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup, in which it was defeated by Nashville 1-1 on aggregate in the tie decided by double value of away goals.
The elimination of ConcaChampions against Nashville was a severe setback for Inter Miami which, after conquering the MLS in 2025, had set itself the main objective of attacking the great continental tournament, which has not been able to reach the final in the three editions in which it has had Messi in its ranks.
For its part, NYCFC came to the match at Yankee Stadium after a good start to the Emelesera season in which they had achieved a draw and three consecutive victories in the Eastern Conference.
Miami, however, had important absences due to injury such as Rodrigo de Paul or Sergio Reguilón, as well as the absence of coach Javier Mascherano on the bench due to suspension in the last MLS match against Charlotte.
The match started in the best possible way for Inter after the Argentine defender Gonzalo Luján, after several rejections on a corner, connected a strong cross whip with his left foot to make it 0-1 three minutes after the initial whistle.
The 24-year-old defender, formerly of San Lorenzo, thus scored the first goal not only with Miami but in his entire professional career.
However, NYCFC did not lose face of the match. In one of the several flashes they had, the New York team equalized the score and unleashed euphoria in the stands of Yankee Stadium, which were dyed practically in equal parts blue and pink.
The goal came thanks to a free kick from the edge of the area taken by Nicolás Fernández. The New York City FC forward and former player for Elche of the Spanish League, top scorer in the MLS with 5 goals this season, calibrated with his left foot a millimetric shot that surpassed the barrier and, after touching the crossbar, voted into the Miami goal.
Nico Fernández’s tie gave wings to the locals, who felt like avenging their last game against Miami, which cost them elimination from the Eastern finals last November by a heavy 5-1 in Florida.
However, Inter reacted with champion pride to NYCFC with attacking attacks towards the goal defended by the American Matt Freese, especially through Leo Messi, who dominated Miami’s entire offensive.
The gaucho star, in the first half alone, shot up to six times on goal, two of them hitting the posts and another two times forcing worthy interventions by Freese, goalkeeper of the United States team.
In addition, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also came close to scoring an Olympic goal – if not the only one, of the few goals he has yet to score in his career after more than 900 goals as a professional.
A round trip of goals
In the second half, NYCFC managed to go up 2-1 through Agustín Ojeda. The Argentine attacker did not forgive in the one-on-one after an excellent assist from Maxi Morález that left him alone against the Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.
The legend “El Frasquito” Morález added, in this way, his 89th assist in his excellent career in Major League Soccer (MLS).
Within a minute, “La Pulga” Messi, who had received a foul about 25 meters from the goal, dared to take the free kick and fortune smiled on him. Previously, during the match, Messi had crashed two left-footed shots into the New York uprights to the admiration of the stands.
Messi made the score 2-2 thanks to the fact that the free kick shot had its trajectory changed when it touched a local defender and entered through the middle of the goal, displacing Freese’s trajectory. It was goal number 901 in the career of “GOAT” Messi.
To finish the second comeback that was seen at Yankee Stadium, Brazilian defender Micael, in the center of left-handed winger Noah Allen, finished off with a header to make the final 2-3 that helped Inter Miami take a great victory from New York.
(With a report from Jan Téllez Asensio, from EFE)
🗣️ @NashvilleSC sits in first and unbeaten heading into the International Break. pic.twitter.com/pdiE0L7JQh
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 23, 2026
