This Match recap is presented by Powerful Foods
Inter Miami CF returned to winning ways with a 1-2 road victory over the New York Red Bulls. The trip to Red Bull Arena was marked by goals from Inter Miami’s Argentine Designated Player duo of Gonzalo Higuaín, who assumed the role of captain, and Matías Pellegrini as the team claimed its second road victory.
"I think it was an emotional match, a really difficult one for all of us. We were missing five regular starters and it was the moment for the players who were behind them, waiting for an opportunity to help the team. I think they did well and helped the team,” said manager Diego Alonso. “With respect to Gonzalo [Higuaín's] free kick, the emotion was at its peak. We had been waiting for a player of his quality and he's shown what we all expected and needed since he arrived: a player that can finish plays and helps us to be better."
The lineups featured a number of notable inclusions, among them the Inter Miami debut for John McCarthy, who stepped into goal in place of the injured Luis Robles. Christian Makoun, who made his first appearance for the team as a substitute in its debut match on March 1, had his first start for Inter Miami. Rookie right back Dylan Nealis, meanwhile, returned to the starting lineup, facing off against his older brother Sean Nealis who started for the Red Bulls, making them just the fifth set of brothers to face off in an MLS match.
The first significant defensive intervention for Inter Miami came in the 18th minute; a ball over the top found Tom Barlow in the box, who looped a header towards goal, but Blaise Matuidi reacted quickly, chased the ball down, and made a sliding goal line clearance to save a goal and keep the match scoreless.
New York took the lead early in the second half, opening the scoring in the 53rd minute. Omir Fernandez made a run into the box and turned the ball into the back of the net, connecting with a cross from Jared Stroud to make it 1-0.
Inter Miami responded just two minutes later, however, scoring an equalizing goal in the 55th minute. Lewis Morgan collected a pass from Higuaín, drove down the right wing and hit a precise, long-distance cross into Pellegrini in the box. The young Argentine connected with the pass and struck a shot into the roof of the net to make it 1-1. The goal was Pellegrini’s first in MLS, and marked the fifth assist for Morgan, tying him with Pizarro as the top provider on the team. Morgan also sits atop the team’s scoring charts with four goals.
Inter Miami struck again before the match was over, taking the lead in the 81st minute from a free kick by Higuaín after he drew the foul himself. The striker stood over the ball from just outside of the box, stepped up and curled a powerful strike into the side netting to open his scoring account for Inter Miami and make it 1-2.
Higuaín, who was named Heineken Man of the Match, came off the field moments later, as his compatriot Julián Carranza came on for him in the 84th minute. Upon his exit, Higuaín handed the captain’s armband to Matuidi.
The team maintained its lead through the final whistle to claim its second road victory of its inaugural MLS season.
Inter Miami returns home to face the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 5 p.m. ET at Inter Miami CF Stadium.
