New York City FC continued their strong run of form, twice seeing off Inter Miami comebacks to win 3-2 at Inter Miami CF Stadium on Saturday courtesy of two goals from Alexandru Mitrita.
All five goals came in a rollercoaster of a first half when momentum swung rapidly between the two teams. Mitrita got the scoring going early, running in behind the Miami defense and providing a neat one-time finish to an Alex Ring ball over the top.
We had to wait a while for the game's second goal, Lewis Morgan applying an emphatic right-footed finish to a stylish team move involving Blaise Matuidi and Victor Ulloa in the 27th minute. But the goals then came thick and fast. Eight minutes later, Anton Tinnerholm drove forward and cut inside from the right before beating Luis Robles with a low left-footed shot from 20 yards,
Miami again pulled level in the 38th minute. Morgan grabbed his second of the night, this one even more spectacular than his first as he struck an unstoppable right-footed shot after a layoff from Gonzalo Higuain. But the parity lasted just five minutes. Mitrita matched Morgan with his second goal, running from deep inside his own half and into the Miami area before getting the benefit of a deflection off Ben Sweat to find the net.
That proved to be the end of the scoring, though Miami were celebrating a late equalizer from Julian Carranza only to have it called back for offside following a video review.
Goals
- 4' — NYC – Alexandru Mitrita | WATCH
- 27' — MIA — Lewis Morgan | WATCH
- 35' — NYC — Anton Tinnerholm | WATCH
- 38' — MIA — Lewis Morgan | WATCH
- 43' — NYC — Alexandru Mitrita | WATCH
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: After a rocky start to the season under new coach Ronny Deila, NYCFC are suddenly surging. It's now just one defeat in their last nine games and last year's best in the East will now surely be eyeing a top-four spot in the Eastern Conference and ensuring they'll get to host at least one playoff game. For Miami, the struggles continue. There were real signs of exciting attacking cohesion forming between Higuain, Morgan Pizarro and Matuidi on Saturday but there will be plenty of analysis in the coming days devoted to the manner in which they conceded those three goals.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Twice NYCFC had been pegged back in the first half before Mitrita picked the ball up deep in his own half and drove forward more than half the length of the field to get what proved to be the winning goal.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Alexandru Mitrita. With Maxi Moralez and Heber out injured, NYCFC needed Mitrita to step up. And the Romania international has done just that with his two clinical finishes on Saturday giving him four goals in two games.
Next Up
- MIA: Wednesday, Oct. 7 at New York Red Bulls (7 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
- NYC: Wednesday, Oct. 7 vs. D.C. United (8 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
