New Delhi: Argentine star Lionel Messi helped his Major League Soccer side Inter Miami narrowly escape defeat to New York City FC as they played a 2-2 draw with Messi’s two crucial assists. The Herons began things on a high note, taking an early lead just five minutes into the game.
Messi recorded his first goal contribution of the season sending a delicious ball across the six-yard box to help Tomas Aviles open the score line for the Miami. Things didn’t last longer for the hosts as two minutes later Winger Fafa Picault sustained a muscle injury going to the ground holding the back of his leg forcing new manager Javier Mascherano into his first change just seven minutes into the game.
The Argentina connection between Aviles and Messi. 🇦🇷
Leo gets his first assist of 2025 and @InterMiamiCF lead early.
📺 #MLSSeasonPass or Apple TV+: https://t.co/New3YJgffK pic.twitter.com/6hUqW4vjGb
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 23, 2025
Miami’s situation deteriorated further in the 23rd minute when Thomas Aviles received a red card, leaving them to contend with 10 men for the rest of the match. New York City capitalised on their numerical advantage when Maxi Moralez’s free-kick found Mitja Ilenic who scored the equaliser.
With an inexperienced defence featuring Noah Allen and Ian Fray, the Heroes struggled to maintain control. A costly error by Jordi Alba led to Alonso Martinez scoring NYCFC’s second goal. Despite looking down and out for much of the contest, Messi ensured that his team wouldn’t go down without a fight-recording two pivotal assists becoming Man of the Match later.
In the 100th minute of the match defender Ian Fray drove forward in heroic fashion finding Messi in NYCFC’s area and from there the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner did what he did best. Messi’s precise pass found the substitute Telascvo Segovia whose looping shot dipped over a forthcoming Matt Freese but the New York City goalkeeper could do nothing about it.
OH MY 😱
Another Messi assist laaaate in stoppage time to equalize. pic.twitter.com/ZEt6KeD2Cf
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 23, 2025
With the late equaliser, Miami earned a point snatching the defeat from the mouth of New York City what was looking to be a brilliant road victory out from the nose of the Pigeons on the opening day clash.
Mascherano on Messi
The new leader Javier Mascherano hailed Messi after the match. He said, “He’s like a kid playing and he doesn’t want to lose. So for us, it’s a big, big advantage. So we need to keep him with this spirit because it’s not just what he does on the pitch, it’s what he translates to his teammates and all that he does with his 37 years…. So it’s magnificent.”
Messi scripts history
With his first assist of the game, Messi scripted history in MLS. The Argentine became the fastest to make 40-goal contributions in league history. The 37-year-old maestro took just 26 matches to breach the 40-goal contribution mark, including 20 assists and 21 goals. Messi has now taken his overall assists tally to 381 with his second match-deciding pass of the night.
Messi set to become the first player in football history to get 400 assists isn’t talked about enough.
He is under-rated! pic.twitter.com/prlQIkOh0e
— Max Stéph (@maxstephh) February 23, 2025
What next?
Inter Miami are back in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Tuesday evening when they host Sporting Kansas City in leg two of the opening round series. Miami won the first leg with Messi scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 victory at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City.
Lionel Messi provided two crucial assists as Inter Miami secured a dramatic 2-2 draw against New York City FC. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
