Inter Miami CF Claims Road Win, Secures Clean Sheet in MLS Return

Inter Miami CF (6W-14L-3D, 21 points) earned a crucial three points and a clean sheet in a 0-2 road win over the New York Red Bulls (7W-10L-8D, 29 points) in the team’s first MLS regular season match in over a month, extending its current Club-record winning streak to nine.

Diego Gómez, a young Paraguayan international, and Lionel Messi scored the team’s goals, while Academy products Noah Allen and Benjamin Cremaschi assisted.

Following a tight, defensive first 30 minutes, Inter Miami found the opening goal in the 37th minute of play. After a Red Bulls defense clearance, Allen took possession on the left side of the field and sent a cross into the box for Gómez, who settled the pass before finishing with a low left-footed strike to the far post. Gómez’s goal was his first as an Inter Miami player, while Allen’s assist was his first in MLS.

The score remained unchanged in the final minutes of the first half, allowing the visitors to go into the break with a 1-0 lead. Callender made crucial saves in the first few minutes of the second half to keep the hosts scoreless.

Notably, the goalkeeper saved two big chances from the Red Bulls inside the box, first sending a header from Omir Fernandez out for a corner kick in the 50th minute with quick reflexes, and then rejecting a grounded shot from Tom Barlow moments later.

Then, in the 60th minute, Messi, Yedlin, and Sergio Busquets came on for Campana, Taylor, and Ruiz. The legendary Argentine attacker and Spanish midfielder both made their MLS debuts.

The scoreline appeared to be static until Messi scored in the 89th minute after a sublime team play that ended with the attacker finding fellow second-half substitute Cremaschi with space on the right side of the box with an inch-perfect through ball with the outside of the foot. Cremaschi then passed the ball to Messi in the center of the box, who fired it into the net for his first MLS goal.

Messi’s goal was his 11th of the season, and he has also scored or assisted in all nine appearances for Inter Miami. Cremaschi’s assist, meanwhile, was his fourth of the MLS regular season.

Inter Miami held the Red Bulls scoreless in the final minutes of the game, winning 0-2 on the road and keeping a clean sheet in the team’s return to MLS regular season action.

“We have to win our upcoming matches. As long as we win a lot, our chances of being able to at least make the play-ins will increase,” Inter Miami CF head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino. We took a big first step today, but there is still a long way to go.”

The team will now return to South Florida for its next match, with Inter Miami set to host Nashville SC at DRV PNK Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Aug. 30, when the Club will present the 2023 Leagues Cup to its fans at DRV PNK Stadium.