Inter Miami CF stumbled out of the blocks during the 2025 Major League Soccer season opener, with the team held to a thrilling 2-2 draw against New York City FC at home on Saturday night. The match unfolded dramatically as Miami played most of the game with ten men, following the red card issued to defender Tomás Avilés after he had opened the scoring.
With Lionel Messi at the helm, both new and returning players took the field under the guidance of new head coach Javier Mascherano, who assumed the role following the departure of Gerardo Martino. Mascherano had big shoes to fill, and Miami's determined fans were hopeful for another strong season after the team's record points haul last year, which ended disappointingly with a playoff exit.
The night began favorably for the Herons when Avilés slotted home the opening goal just five minutes from the whistle. Messi, showcasing his typical brilliance, played a corner deep to teammate Jordi Alba, who deftly returned the pass for Avilés to finish. It was the perfect start, yet fortune appeared fleeting as early setbacks changed the match's momentum.
After Avilés found the net, forward Fafa Picault had to leave the match due to what looked like a muscle injury just five minutes later. The match took another turn when Avilés was shown straight red for taking down Alonso Martinez on the edge of the box. From the subsequent free-kick, Maxi Moralez exploited the disorganization in the Miami defense, assisting Mitja Ilenic who leveled the score with his own goal midway through the first half.
Following this setback, Miami struggled to regain control. The situation worsened when Jordi Alba made another error; having gifted the ball to New York's Martinez, he allowed the forward to zoom past him and score, giving NYCFC the lead at 2-1 in the 55th minute. With Messi receiving little support from his teammates, it looked grim for the Herons.
Despite being one man down and facing relentless pressure, Inter Miami still had moments of brilliance. The team fought back, with substitute Robert Taylor putting pressure on NYCFC's keeper, Matt Freese, just before the half-time break.
Messi, the star of the night, began to find his rhythm again, making several attempts to create chances. His efforts finally amounted to something significant when he slipped through the perfect pass to Telasco Segovia during the tenth minute of stoppage time, who then deftly lifted the ball over Freese to equalize for Miami. This late break of joy held the audience on their feet until the last moment.
The match ended with mixed feelings; Miami's early promise fizzled out amid confusion and missed opportunities, yet their resilience shines through. Messi's contributions are particularly significant historically, as he now holds the record for the fastest player to reach 40 goal contributions within the league. It took him just 26 matches to achieve this milestone, combining 19 assists with 21 goals since his arrival at the club, making the anticipation for the season highly notable.
Accompanied by illustrious guests, including Hollywood actress Eva Longoria and tennis star Serena Williams, the night was memorable not only because of the match but the anticipated buzz and glamour surrounding Inter Miami. Fans flocked to the stadium, hopeful for another successful season, betting on Messi's prowess to push the team forward.
After Miami's exhilarating opener, they will look to regroup quickly as they prepare for the challenges of the season. The expectation looms among supporters, as they hope to see improvements under Mascherano's management and to build momentum from their performance against NYCFC. While the season opener has its challenges, fans remain optimistic about their team's potential to secure titles going forward.