September 21, (THEWILL) – New York City FC and Inter Miami played out a 1-1 draw in Major League Soccer on Saturday.
The match played at Yankee Stadium saw James Sands score his first MLS goal in stoppage time to deny Miami a victory.
Inter Miami, leading the Supporters’ Shield standings by eight points, looked set for another win when Leonardo Campana scored in the 75th minute. However, Sands’ late header from Santiago Rodriguez’s corner ensured the points were shared.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez returned to Miami’s starting lineup after being rested midweek. Despite their presence, clear chances were limited in the first half. Rodriguez hit the post with a free-kick for New York City, while Messi forced a save from Matt Freese.
The second half saw more action, with Keaton Parks and Alonso Martinez threatening for the hosts. Miami then took the lead through substitute Campana, who finished from Jordi Alba’s cutback. But Sands’ stoppage-time equaliser sparked jubilant scenes among the home fans.
The result keeps Inter Miami at the top of the table but opens the door for their rivals to close the gap. For New York City, the late equaliser provides a boost as they look to climb the standings in the 2024 MLS season.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
