Inter Miami snap seven-game MLS losing streak with 1-1 tie against Austin FC
Inter Miami breaks seven-game MLS losing streak with 1-1 draw against Austin FC… but Lionel Messi’s new team needs more improvement to make playoffs
- Josef Martinez scored to give Inter Miami the lead in the second half against Austin FC
- But Nick Lima equalized soon after and the two teams shared the points
Inter Miami took a small step in the right direction in the MLS on Saturday night, drawing 1-1 with Austin to break their seven-match losing streak.
Josef Martinez scored less than two minutes into the second half, but the goal didn’t last as hosts Inter Miami settled for a 1–1 draw with Austin. Nick Lima equalized about four minutes after Inter Miami came on the board.
Still, Inter Miami’s seven-game losing streak ended with a draw in what may have been the team’s last game under interim coach Javier Morales.
It narrowed the gap in the playoff spots to 10 points and with two games left and Lionel Messi on the way, things were looking just a little better for Miami.
Tata Martino has been hired to take on the head coaching position and he attended Saturday night’s game as he waits for paperwork to be completed to take up his duties.
Inter Miami’s 1–1 draw with Austin FC ended their seven-game losing streak in the MLS
But Miami needs to rack up some wins, and fast, to make the playoffs
Inter Miami (5-13-1, 16 points), which has not recorded an MLS win since May 13, had a statistical advantage with an 18-12 lead in shots. Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender made three saves.
Goalkeeper Brad Stuver saved seven shots for Austin FC (7-8-5, 25 points), which came off a pair of wins as it scored three times in each of those games.
Martinez recorded his team-leading fifth goal of the season and his second score in a three-game span.
He was set up for a shot into the penalty area by Benjamin Cremaschi’s cross from the right. Two Austin FC players continued play, leaving Martinez open for the shot.
In front of Lima’s goal, the defender collected the ball outside the penalty area after teammate Sebastian Driussi’s shot was blocked from the top left corner of the box. That became the first goal in Lima’s 81-game tenure with Austin and the eighth of his MLS career.
Inter Miami produced more chances in the first half, but failed to score on any of the nine shots. Four of those required saves from Stuver.
It was the first time in four games that Inter Miami held an opponent to less than two goals.