New York City 1-1 Inter Miami: Sands denies Herons with last-gasp leveller

James Sands equalised five minutes into second-half stoppage time as New York City fought back for a 1-1 draw with Inter Miami in MLS on Saturday.

Miami entered the game with an eight-point lead over the chasing pack in the Supporters’ Shield standings, but they opened the door to their rivals by letting a lead slip at the death.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez returned to their lineup after being rested in their midweek draw with Atlanta United, but it was substitute Leonardo Campana who put them on the brink of victory with his goal 15 minutes from time, only for Sands to rescue a point for the hosts.

New York started brighter and saw Santiago Rodriguez strike the post with a curling free-kick early on, before Matt Freese was called into action by Messi at the other end.

The first half saw few other clear-cut opportunities, then Keaton Parks and Alonso Martinez both went close for Nick Cushing’s hosts in the early stages of the second period.

But it was Gerardo Martino’s men who went ahead in the 75th minute, with Jordi Alba cutting the ball back for substitute Campana to convert.

There was a twist to come five minutes into stoppage time, however, with Sands getting across his man to head Rodriguez’s corner home. It was his first goal in MLS, sparking wild celebrations at Yankee Stadium.

JAMES WITH HIS FIRST @MLS GOAL pic.twitter.com/eqrMUBrgtb

— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) September 21, 2024

Data Debrief: Miami fall short of record pace

Miami approached Saturday’s game with 63 points from their first 29 games of the MLS campaign, and with Messi and Suarez restored to their lineup, they will have fancied their chances of earning a place in history.

The only previous team to collect 66 points through 30 matches of a regular season was the New England Revolution, who did so in their record-breaking 2021 campaign.

Miami were on the brink of matching that pace before Sands popped up with his late intervention, maintaining NYCFC’s strong record against the Herons.

They have only lost one of their 11 all-time meetings with Miami (seven wins, three draws), with the last three matches between the teams all finishing level.