New York City advanced this Monday, October 17, to the second round of the MLS “playoffs” after beating Inter Miami 3-0, which could have been more in the game that marked the final farewell to professional football. active of Gonzalo, Higuain.
Brazilians Gabriel Pereira and Héber and Argentine Maxi Moralez scored for the New Yorkers while Higuaín had the most obvious chances for an Inter Miami that closed the best season of its short history.
For New York City, the current MLS champion, it is the sixth time he will play in the conference semifinals of the eight seasons played since his debut in 2015.
Montreal will be New York City’s rival in the eastern semifinals to be played next Sunday.
Inter Miami have recovered from the injury of Spaniard Alejandro Pozuelo with the hope of giving more creation to the team.
Pozuelo and Higuaín make a difference in Phil Neville’s team, but that can only be seen at specific times as the New York City defense knew how to stop their game.
He began to dominate the visiting team, with Taylor signing the first dangerous shot of the match. But as the minutes passed it turned the clash into a two-way duel.
In this vertical game dynamic, Thiago Martins headed the post in response to Taylor. And it was Higuaín who scored, on 22 minutes, but the VAR ruled out everything for offside.
New York City felt more comfortable with the ball and was able to stomp regularly on the opposing area, while the approach did not bother an Inter Miami trying to get out quickly.
This brings us to the clearest part of the first half, a very comical action as it miraculously does not become the first goal.
Callender randomly throws a simple ball which Héber has the task of exploiting to define above the goalkeeper, Mabika arrives on time and pushes him back with difficulty slamming him against the crossbar and, the same ball rejected, goes back against the wood in an attempt to move away McVey’s danger.
These were the best times for the locals, but they couldn’t realize their opportunities.
Inter Miami lost their presence on the pitch and tried to respond defensively with more improvisation than order.
Inter Miami closed the first half with another from Pipita, an action that brought the Argentine to the forefront and, after feints and cuts, he defined slightly wide with the left.
The tone of the match will not change in the second half with the locals dominating clearly and an Inter Miami whose only chance to score was thanks to the inspiration of Higuaín or Pozuelo.
The Argentine thus forced the goalkeeper Johnson to stretch over everything with a powerful shot that found the goal with little angle.
In the 63rd minute the first goal comes with a long and hard-fought ball from Uruguayan Santiago Rodríguez, who brings all the Inter Miami defenders with him and sees on his right the disposition of a completely alone Gabriel Pereira.
The Brazilian defined the squad.
Just six minutes later Maxi Moralez signed the second.
He picked up the ball with a back heel from Rodríguez, who sealed his second assist surrounded by messy Miami footballers and left him hand in hand with the goalkeeper to cross him low.
The last few minutes showed the frustration of some Inter Miami players who couldn’t play comfortably or find their best football. Pozuelo was one of these, reappeared from an injury and with no race pace.
The final push was given by Héber in another defensive nonsense from Miami, which with a back pass allowed the Brazilian to score alone against the keeper.
With the final whistle, a contrast of emotions was seen on the Citi Field lawn: on the one hand, the party in New York City; and on the other the tears of Higuaín moved by his farewell.
Match sheet:
New York: Johnson; Tinnerholm, Thiago Martins, Chanot, Callens; Acevedo, Moralez (Andrade, m.88); Gabriel Pereira (Parks, m.79), Rodríguez (Pellegrini, m.94), O’Toole; and Eber.
Inter Miami: caller; Yedin, Lowe (Gibbs, m.72), Mabika (Sailor, m.72), Mcvey; Gregory, Mother; Taylor (Duca, m.80), Pozuelo, Lassiter (Vassilev, m.58); Higuain.
targets: 1-0, m.63: Gabriel Pereira. 2-0, m.69: Morale. 3-0, m.92: Héber.
Referee: Rubiel Vázquez (United States). He warned Acevedo, Lassiter, Lowe and Pozuelo.
accidents: MLS ‘Playoffs’ first round match played at Citi Field in New York.
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