Boss makes ‘shocking’ call after Lionel Messi hits point-blank range as Herons draw again at Nu Stadium

Inter Miami’s run of five points from six games is “frustrating” and requires “inner strength”, head coach Javier Mascherano said after a 2-2 draw with New York Red Bulls ensured the MLS Cup holders held both of their matches at the Nu Stadium.

The Herons were hoping for their first win in their new home after a 2-2 draw against Austin last Saturday, but they went back to an early goal when Jorge Ruvalcaba headed in Julian Hall’s cross.

Argentina Under-20 international Mateo Silvetti scored Rodrigo De Paul’s equalizer in first-half stoppage time and, after $15 million (around £11.4m) signing German Berterame scored his first goal for Miami 10 minutes into the break after captain Lionel Messi, Adri Mehmeti got the remaining point for New York City.

“We expected these games to be six points out of six, and two out of six are very small,” Mascherano was upset about the first two games in a stadium with a capacity of 26,700 people.

Analysis: Inter Miami again limped to a draw against the Red Bulls

Miami, sitting in third place, is four points behind Eastern Conference leader Nashville, and only four teams in the division have a worse record than Mascherano’s.

They remain unbeaten in eight games since losing their opener 3-0 at LAFC, although their two draws ensured an immediate exit from the Champions Cup against Nashville.

“Yes, it’s worrying,” said Mascherano. “It’s scary because we expected it, after the good start we had [playing all of our first six games] away from home, getting two wins here would strengthen us a lot.

“It would put us at the top of our conference, but this is a long season, a good example we can look at last season when we had to face different situations and have the strength to overcome them.

“Now we have to find that inner strength again, to continue working, to criticize ourselves.”

German Berterame: Unmarked Inter Miami striker

New York would have scored a second at the beginning of the second half but Cade Cowell was called offside after entering.

Berterame also had a potential winner ruled out for offside and Messi had a free-kick left behind by goalkeeper Ethan Horvath.

Mascherano, who defended Berterame after the draw against Austin extended his wait for his first Miami goal to eight games, will be relieved to see the striker open his account after assisting Luis Suarez against the Verde and Black.

“We know the demands of this club better than anyone,” said Mascherano, who returned Berterame to his starting team after three games as a substitute.

“We know that here we have to win everything we play for, we will not focus on this [draw]that is the truth.

“I understand that there are many things that need to improve, it is obvious that the first one that needs to improve is me because if the team does not find that consensus, the coach is responsible.

“There are many things that we must continue to strengthen, but the team is not doing too badly. We must not see everything negatively.”

Inter Miami vs New York Red Bulls statistics

• This was the 13th MLS regular-season meeting between the teams with the first tie, each winning six of the previous games.
• There have been at least three goals in nine of their 13 matches and at least four goals in their last five.
• Miami had won the last three, most recently coming from behind to win 5-1 away in July 2025 with the help of two goals each from Telasco Segovia and Messi, assisted by the captain of Argentina, a goal and an assist from Jordi Alba and an assist from Suarez.
• Only Dallas’ Petar Musa and Nashville’s Sam Surridge (7 each) and Vancouver’s Bryan White (6) have scored more MLS goals this season than Messi (5)
• The Red Bulls’ total of two wins, 10 points and 0.59 points per game left last season was the worst outside of Atlanta United and LA Galaxy. Only Sporting Kansas City (12) has lost more away games than New York (11)

What’s next? Inter Miami, New York Red Bulls games

Miami heads to the Western Conference’s sixth-place team, Colorado, on Saturday.

The Red Bulls are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and will host the second-placed Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Wednesday,

Then they visit a Montreal team that has lost six times and won their one game in MLS this season.