New York City 2-3 Inter Miami Player Ratings: Thrilling Comeback Sees Miami Edge Five-Goal Classic At The Armando Villarreal To Go Level On Points With New York City

Inter Miami snatched a dramatic 3-2 victory against New York City in a game that swung back and forth, leaving fans breathless. The game was a classic example of defensive lapses, individual brilliance, and late drama.

The visitors struck first, almost immediately. A 3rd-minute corner resulted in Gonzalo Luján poking home from close range, a messy goal that set the tone. But New York responded with their own piece of magic.

Nicolás Fernández Mercau bent a stunning free-kick into the top corner, leveling the scores with a goal that defied the keeper completely. The game was an open, chaotic affair from start to finish.

The second half saw the home side take the lead. A rapid counter-attack was finished coolly by Agustín Ojeda, thanks to a sublime through ball from Maxi Moralez. Just as New York City thought they had control, up stepped the maestro.

Lionel Messi answered with a free-kick of his own, a perfectly placed strike that took a wicked deflection, leveling the match once more. The winner came from another set-piece, as defender Micael rose highest to head home from a corner, capping a memorable comeback for Inter Miami.

Check out the New York City vs Inter Miami Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Inter Miami had the most possession and an even better xG as compared to the hosts.
• Nicolás Fernández and Aiden O'Neill won the most duels in this game (10).
• Maxi Moralez lost possession most times in this match (17).

New York City Player Ratings vs Inter Miami

Have a look at the New York City Player Ratings from the New York City vs Inter Miami Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Matt Freese - 6.0: A really tough night for the keeper. He made five saves, some of which were genuinely impressive stops, especially from close range. However, the error that led to a goal is a huge mark against his name. You just can't make mistakes like that at this level.

Defenders

Kai Trewin - 6.5: He was tidy on the ball, boasting a 90% pass accuracy and finding his man with some nice long balls. Defensively though, he was part of a unit that looked vulnerable and conceded three goals. He made a couple of key blocks but was stretched.

Thiago Martins - 5.5: A very poor performance from the captain. He looked off the pace and was dribbled past twice. His distribution was decent but his primary job is to defend, and his backline was breached too easily. Not a captain's performance by any means.

Kevin O'Toole - 6.0: We noticed he struggled to get involved in the game meaningfully. He was caught offside twice, killing promising attacks, and didn't offer the defensive security needed on his flank. He was neat in possession but lacked impact.

Tayvon Gray - 7.0: A bright spot in a leaky defense. Gray was excellent in the duel, winning all of his tackles and looking strong and committed. He was a solid presence on the right side and tried to get forward when he could. One of the few defenders to come out with credit.

Midfielders

Maxi Moralez - 7.0: A classic mixed bag from the veteran. He provided a moment of pure quality with his assist for Ojeda's goal, a perfectly weighted through ball. But he also lost the ball 16 times and picked up a silly yellow card. He giveth and he taketh away.

Aiden O'Neill - 6.5: He put in a real shift, covering a lot of ground and winning a good number of duels. His seven ball recoveries show his work rate. From our perspective, he fought hard but was ultimately part of a midfield that was second-best for large periods.

Keaton Parks - 6.0: A fairly anonymous outing for Parks before he was substituted. He was okay in possession but failed to really influence the game in the final third or provide the defensive screen his team needed. An average day at the office.

Forwards

Nicolás Fernández Mercau - 8.0: What a player. He was easily New York City's best performer and our highest-rated player in the match. His free-kick was a thing of absolute beauty. Beyond the goal, he was a menace, winning 10 duels and constantly drawing fouls. A fantastic, all-action display.

Hannes Wolf - 5.5: He really struggled to make any sort of impact. He lost 9 of his 13 duels and committed six fouls, showing his frustration. He looked completely out of sorts and offered very little threat going forward. A night to forget.

Agustín Ojeda - 7.5: He took his goal with the composure of a seasoned striker, a really calm finish on the counter. He was a willing runner all night and looked to get in behind the defense. A very promising performance full of energy and a clinical edge.

Substitutes

Talles Magno - N/A: Came on late and was immediately caught offside. Not enough time to make an impact.

Manager

P. Jansen - 5.5: His team showed flashes of attacking brilliance, particularly on the counter. However, the defensive organization was simply not good enough. Conceding from two set-pieces and being unable to hold a lead at home will be a major concern for him.

Inter Miami Player Ratings vs New York City

Here are the New York City Player Ratings from the New York City vs Inter Miami Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Dayne St. Clair - 6.5: He had absolutely no chance with the stunning free-kick and was left exposed for the second goal. His distribution was near-perfect, which helped Miami build from the back. Made a couple of important saves when called upon.

Defenders

Gonzalo Luján - 7.5: An excellent all-around game. He was in the right place at the right time to stab home the opening goal. Defensively he was robust, making key tackles and clearances, though the yellow card was a slight blemish on an otherwise great performance.

Micael - 8.0: The match-winner. His powerful header was decisive, and it capped a commanding defensive display. He read the game superbly, making four interceptions, and was a rock at the back. His goal was the icing on the cake of a great night's work.

Ian Fray - 6.0: Looked a bit rash and undisciplined. He committed several fouls and deservedly went into the book. While he won most of his duels, he seemed a liability at times before being taken off. Needs to add more composure to his game.

Noah Allen - 7.5: What a delivery for the winning goal. The assist was sublime, a perfect cross following the corner. Beyond that moment of quality, he was defensively perfect, winning 100% of his tackles and making five clearances. A fantastic showing.

Midfielders

Telasco Segovia - 7.0: A chaotic but effective performance. He created four chances and was constantly trying to make things happen. The downside was his tendency to lose the ball, but his creativity was a key part of Miami's attacking play. A whirlwind of activity.

Lionel Messi - 8.0: The little magician delivered again. His free-kick was pure genius, leaving the keeper with no chance. He was a constant threat, registering nine shots and hitting the woodwork twice. He may have lost a few duels, but his gravity and moments of quality defined the game.

Tadeo Allende - 5.5: A really quiet game from the midfielder. He was a passenger for much of his time on the pitch and was rightly substituted after an hour. He failed to get into the game and made no significant contributions.

David Ayala - 7.0: The engine room of the team. We were so impressed by his work rate. His 11 ball recoveries were immense, constantly breaking up play and winning the ball back. He provided the platform for the attacking players to shine. An unsung hero.

Yannick Bright - 6.0: A tidy but unspectacular performance. He kept possession well but didn't offer much in the way of penetration or defensive steel before being substituted. A solid, if forgettable, shift.

Forwards

Mateo Silvetti - 6.0: A hugely frustrating player to watch. He got into great positions and created chances, but his end product was poor. Being dispossessed seven times is simply not good enough, and he squandered some good opportunities. Could have had a much better game.

Substitutes

Dániel Pintér - 6.0: Came on and put himself about, but didn't have a major impact.
Facundo Mura - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.
Germán Berterame - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.
David Ruíz - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

J. Mascherano - 7.5: His team showed tremendous fight and character to come from 2-1 down to win away from home. His faith in his star players paid off, and the focus on set-pieces proved to be a masterstroke. He'll be delighted with the grit his side displayed to secure the three points.

Man of the Match

Nicolás Fernández Mercau was adjudged the man of the match from the New York City vs Inter Miami game.

Worst Performer

Thiago Martins was the worst of the lot from this MLS game.