Inter Miami boss Martino blames referee after draw with NYCFC

Inter Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino claimed the match in opposition to New York Metropolis FC at Yankee Stadium “lacked a superb referee” after a heated contest resulted in a 1-1 draw at Yankee Stadium Saturday.

Inter Miami gamers earned 5 of the 9 yellow playing cards all through the sport, whereas a Miami assistant coach acquired an immediate pink card and expulsion from the bench within the second half. Noah Allen and Federico Redondo will consequently miss the group’s subsequent match in opposition to Charlotte FC on Sept. 28 due yellow card accumulation.

“The group did not lack something, however the match lacked a superb referee,” Martino mentioned in his post-game information convention.

Martino was notably aggrieved at referee Jon Freemon for failing to name a foul when Inter Miami defender Yannick Vibrant went to floor within the field earlier than NYCFC midfielder James Sands headed in a last-minute equalizer.

“We had a superb sport, we should always’ve gained,” he added. “If the referee would’ve known as the foul dedicated in opposition to Yannick Vibrant, we might’ve gained the sport 1-0.”

Miami (19-4-7) did not get on the board till the seventy fifth minute when Leo Campana, a late entry to the sport, completed a play began by Lionel Messi. Messi carried the ball ahead earlier than discovering Jordi Alba to his left streaking contained in the field and he tapped it throughout to a wide-open Campana.

New York (11-11-8) received a nook kick within the fifth minute of stoppage time and Santiago Rodríguez despatched an ideal feed into the field the place Sands was extensive open on the 6-yard line to move the ball simply contained in the close to submit.

The sport drew 44,738 to Yankee Stadium, the second highest complete in NYCFC historical past. The 2 golf equipment performed to 1-1 attract Miami on March 30.

Regardless of the consecutive attracts in opposition to Atlanta United and New York Metropolis, Inter Miami proceed to steer the Japanese Convention and Supporters’ Defend standings with 64 factors in 30 video games.

The Herons should file eight factors from the ultimate 4 matches to safe the Supporters’ Defend, and 10 factors to interrupt the Main League Soccer file for many factors earned throughout a single season. The New England Revolution presently maintain the league file after managing 73 factors in 2021.

Inter Miami returns to motion subsequent Saturday when internet hosting Charlotte FC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Data from The Related Press contributed to this report.