Currently off to their best start since entering Major League Soccer in 2020, Inter Miami play their first road game of the regular season when they travel to Yankee Stadium on Saturday for a playoff rematch with New York City FC.
The Pigeons are winless after two matches this year, playing to a 1-1 draw versus the Chicago Fire, while the Herons maintained their 100% record by upsetting the Philadelphia Union 2-0.
Match preview
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For a second successive campaign, NYCFC have begun the regular season slowly, with just a single point after two games.
Even though they failed to claim victory in the Windy City last weekend, there were many things for Nick Cushing to like about his team's overall performance as the Boys in Blue played more direct along with a quicker tempo, enabling them to create some good scoring opportunities.
Having found the back of the net only once in two matches, we have yet to see anyone emerge as a top-class finisher who is capable of turning those chances created into goals for the Pigeons.
Time will tell if someone can fill the massive shoes of 2021 Golden Boot winner Valentin Castellanos, who departed in 2022, but the backline, which contains a pair of fresh faces, looked more poised and compact last weekend, conceding just a single shot on target against the Fire.
The return of a couple of veteran midfielders last weekend seemed to breathe life back into this possession-based side as the Pigeons controlled the match with fluid ball movements while also winning their share of second balls.
They come into this encounter having won their last four home fixtures in 2022, including a 3-0 win versus Miami in the playoffs, and they are unbeaten in eight successive regular season encounters at Yankee Stadium.
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In the early stages of the new campaign, Phil Neville has seen his Herons pick up where they left off at the tail end of the previous regular season, as they are one of only four MLS teams who are a perfect 2-0.
Miami have beaten their two opponents by that aforementioned margin, shutting out two of the three highest-scoring sides in the Eastern Conference during the 2022 regular season (Philadelphia and CF Montreal).
Replacing the overall quality that Gonzalo Higuain brought to this group last season was never going to be easy, but Miami have shown plenty of depth in attacking positions thus far, with each of their goals coming from a different player.
The Herons have not had much luck on the road versus NYCFC, losing all three of their previous visits against them in the regular season and playoffs by a combined score of 7-0, though Saturday will be the first time they play at Yankee Stadium.
Last year Miami only won four regular season encounters away from home, the fewest among all the playoff teams in the Eastern Conference.
Another victory on Saturday would mark the first time in club history that Inter Miami have won three successive regular season matches away from home after ending the 2022 campaign with victories over DC United (3-2) and Toronto (1-0).
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Team News
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The Boys in Blue come into this encounter without any notable injuries, and last weekend they welcomed back James Sands, who had previously been loaned to Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, while Santiago Rodriguez came back after signing as a Designated Player last Friday.
Gabriel Pereira had the only goal for NYCFC versus the Fire, Mitja Ilenic earned his first career MLS start and Stephen Turnbull made his first senior appearance, replacing the Slovenian right-back in the dying stages of their last match.
When these sides met in the opening round of the 2022 playoffs, Rodriguez set up two of the three New York goals, while former players Heber and Maxi Moralez found the back of the net in a 2-0 win the last time they hosted the Herons in the regular season.
Robbie Robinson is listed as questionable for Miami this weekend due to a calf strain, something that Leonardo Campana is also dealing with, Edison Azcona has a sore hamstring, while Ian Fray and Noah Allen are out because of knee injuries.
Drake Callender has faced 10 shots in two matches and has yet to concede, Corentin Jean and Robert Taylor each scored their first of the campaign against the Union, helping them collect all three points, while Josef Martinez made his second career start for Miami since being acquired from Atlanta United over the off-season.
Former Miami midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo has two goals in his Inter Miami career versus the Pigeons, both of which came in their 3-2 home victory against them last season, with the other strike coming courtesy of Ariel Lassiter.
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Barraza; Ilenic, Martins, Chanot, Cufre; Sands, Parks; Pereira, Rodriguez, Pellegrini; Magno
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Callender; Yedlin, Kryvtsov, McVey, Negri; Gregore, Mota; Pizarro, Ulloa, Jean; Martinez
We say: New York City FC 2-1 Inter Miami
Bringing back two veterans familiar with the New York way of playing should improve the Pigeons' across the board, while we believe Talles Magno could be due for a big match.
The Herons have got the job done, but they have still allowed some quality scoring opportunities, while playing on the road is not their strong suit.
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Joel Lefevre
