FILE PHOTO: Sep 18, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) controls the ball against Atlanta United midfielder Saba Lobjanidze (9) in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images/File Photo
Superstar Lionel Messi and Inter Miami FC will continue the team's pursuit of the Supporters' Shield on Saturday afternoon when they visit struggling New York City FC at Yankee Stadium.
Messi's second match in his return to action from injury was not as productive as his first. The eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient followed up a two-goal, one-assist performance in Miami's 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union last Saturday by seeing his side allow a late equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Atlanta United on Wednesday.
Messi (14 goals, 14 assists) and Luis Suarez (17 goals, six assists) came off the bench as substitutes on Wednesday. Suarez scored his team's lone goal in a 1-1 draw against NYCFC on March 30.
David Ruiz scored his first goal of the season in the first half against Atlanta. Leo Campana added his franchise-best 30th career tally across all competitions in the second for the Herons (19-4-6, 63 points), who are eight points up on both FC Cincinnati and the Los Angeles Galaxy in the race for the most points in MLS.
Miami manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino and midfielder Sergio Busquets were suspended for that match for accumulation of yellow cards.
"I think the young players did a good job," Herons assistant coach Javier Morales said, per The Miami Herald. "It's not easy after not playing a lot to be thrown on the field from one day to the next."
NYCFC (11-11-7, 40 points) saw their winless stretch extend to eight matches (0-3-5) following a 5-1 setback to the Union on Wednesday.
"Like I said before, if we were being outplayed or on our backs against teams, then I would sit here and say, 'I'm worried about the postseason,'" NYCFC coach Nick Cushing said. "However, I've seen enough this season and enough within these games that gives me complete confidence that we'll get back to winning ways and continue to win football matches."
Alonso Martinez scored the lone goal for NYCFC. He also tallied for NYCFC in the previous encounter versus Miami.
--Field Level Media
