Lionel Messi is taking the lead amid the Inter Miami vs New York City FC match at Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon, aiming to recover from an early exit from the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier this week.
The club quickly found a positive shift when Gonzalo Lujan, a recent addition to Miami’s starting defense, netted his first career MLS goal in the fourth minute.
Lujan, filling in for the injured Maxi Falcon, capitalised on a chaotic sequence following a corner kick, scoring from a rebound in front of NYCFC’s goal.
Messi delivered the corner kick, and Telasco Segovia’s shot was blocked by NYCFC defenders as the Inter Miami vs New York City match progressed.
The ball bounced to Lujan, who skillfully placed it into the far corner of the net, giving Miami an early 1-0 lead.
Inter Miami now under the leadership of Leandro Stillitano
According to fans, this was a promising start for Inter Miami (2-1-1, 7 points) in a rematch of last year’s MLS Eastern Conference final, which they won decisively 5-1.
However, the lead was short-lived as NYCFC (3-0-1, 10 points), who remain unbeaten this season and are tied with Nashville for the conference lead, responded in the 17th minute.
Nicolas Fernandez Mercau, who had scored four goals in four matches prior to Sunday’s game, added a fifth with a free kick.
Fernandez Mercau struck a high shot that skimmed just beneath the crossbar, leaving Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair motionless.
It is important to note that Inter Miami has been under the guidance of assistant coach Leandro Stillitano, as head coach Javier Mascherano is serving a one-game suspension following a red card received in the final moments of Inter Miami’s scoreless draw against Charlotte on March 14.
Lionel Messi reaches 900 career goals
Popular footballer Lionel Messi has inscribed yet another record into the annals of football history, becoming only the second player in history to attain 900 career goals, joining Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Argentine legend reached this significant milestone while playing for Inter Miami CF in a CONCACAF Champions League match against Nashville SC. Messi found the net during the game, which ended in a 1-1 draw, although the outcome was predominantly eclipsed by his historic accomplishment.
Read more: Lionel Messi joins Cristiano Ronaldo in historic goal club
