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Germán Berterame netted his first goal for Inter Miami, with Lionel Messi providing the assist, but it wasn't enough for the Herons to claim their first victory at the new Nu Stadium, as they settled for a 2–2 stalemate against Red Bull New York on Saturday evening.
Following a spirited 2–2 draw against Austin FC in the club's inaugural match at the new venue, head coach Javier Mascherano decided to alter his tactical setup, transitioning the team to a 4-4-1-1, with Rodrigo De Paul deployed in a right midfield position and Messi operating as an attacking midfielder behind Berterame up front.
However, defensive vulnerabilities persisted, as Miami struggled to contain the energy and intensity of New York's youthful talents, most notably when 18-year-old Julian Hall burst past Miami's central defensive pairing of Micael and Maxi Falcón, before teeing up Jorge Ruvalcaba for the opening goal in the 15th minute.
Miami drew level just before the break, when Telasco Segovia made a crucial interception, sparking a seven-pass sequence that culminated in a looping cross from De Paul, finished cleanly by Mateo Silvetti.
Rodrigo De Paul drops a dime to Mateo Silvetti. 👌@InterMiamiCF equalizes right before half at Nu Stadium. pic.twitter.com/9Qp47rQlqu
Level at the break, Miami grabbed the lead in the 55th minute when Messi weaved through the opposition defense before threading a pass to Berterame for a composed one-touch finish — his first in nine appearances for the Herons.
Despite a flurry of attacking chances for Miami, Red Bull held firm, with former U.S. men's national team goalkeeper Ethan Horvath producing close-range stops against Messi and Luis Suárez, among his five saves throughout the contest.
Red Bull restored parity in the 77th minute, when 17-year-old Adri Mehmeti converted from a set-piece situation, cutting past De Paul before slotting a finish beyond St. Clair to make it 2–2.
While both teams had their moments throughout the contest, Miami will be left frustrated by the missed opportunities and Horvath's crucial interventions, as they will need to wait several more weeks before another shot at a first win at Nu Stadium.
Here is Sports Illustrated's breakdown of the match, featuring report card grades for each Inter Miami player who took to the field.
Inter Miami's Winners and Losers
Winner
Telasco Segovia stood out as one of the most effective players on the pitch, leaving a significant mark with his relentless pressing and ball-winning ability. While Miami's defensive shape often breaks down, Segovia's work ethic was on full display and was the primary reason the Herons regained possession to engineer the 1–1 equalizer. By the final whistle, he had recorded seven recoveries, while still posing a threat going forward.
Loser
Rodrigo De Paul delivered a superb assist for Silvetti's opener, but the remainder of the match represented another concerning outing for the Argentine. Mascherano moved De Paul to the right midfield slot, presumably hoping he could be more influential than in a central role, and while he produced one standout moment, his defensive shortcomings remained evident. For a player whose reputation was built on hard-nosed tackling, that aspect of his game has been lacking — as demonstrated clearly on Mehmeti's equalizer, where De Paul failed to track the attacker and offered no challenge whatsoever.
Some high-profile players who arrive in MLS tend to raise the level of those around them, yet De Paul appears to have done the opposite, which inevitably raises doubts about his prospects of representing Argentina at the upcoming World Cup.
Inter Miami Report Card vs. Red Bull New York (4-4-1-1)
GK: Dayne St. Clair—B+: The Canadian shot-stopper was left exposed against the Red Bulls and has been unable to produce the big saves needed on the high-quality chances that Miami routinely concede.
RB: Ian Fray—A: While Messi can no longer count on overlapping runs from Jordi Alba down the left side, a promising understanding appears to be developing between Fray and the Argentine, which was on clear display throughout Saturday's match.
CB: Maxi Falcón—D: For reasons unclear, Mascherano continues to select Maxi Falcón as a regular starting center back. This time around, his latest error involved cutting across Micael's tracking run toward Julian Hall while neglecting his own defensive duty, directly contributing to New York's opening goal.
CB: Micael—C+: While the Brazilian defender has developed improved chemistry with Falcón in recent weeks, it has become apparent that he recognizes the flaws in his defensive partner and grows hesitant to fully commit to his own assignments, aware that he may need to cover for him.
LB: Sergio Reguilón—D: Reguilón arrived at Inter Miami with ambitions of replicating Alba's dynamic overlapping runs. So far, his time has been defined by injuries, rehabilitation and underwhelming displays. He failed to make any meaningful contribution before being withdrawn at the interval.
RM: Rodrigo De Paul—C: The Argentine midfielder transitioned to a wider position and provided a key delivery for Mateo Silvetti's goal, but he was largely responsible for losing track of 17-year-old Adri Mehmeti on the 2–2 goal, failing to make a challenge or apply any pressure to the attacker.
CM: Yannick Bright—B: Outside of Messi, Yannick Bright has been Inter Miami's most dependable performer this season, and he took charge alongside Telasco Segovia in the central midfield pairing within the new tactical structure.
CM: Telasco Segovia—A+: Whether it was a directive from training to raise the intensity or a personal decision by the Venezuelan, the energy Segovia brought throughout the match was transformative, proving central to Miami's effectiveness through an unconventional press.
LM: Mateo Silvetti—A-: The young Argentine is growing more reliable with each appearance and made intelligent runs into high-percentage scoring positions in this match, rewarding himself with a composed finish for Miami's equalizer just before the half-time whistle.
CAM: Lionel Messi—B-: The bar for Lionel Messi is extraordinarily high, so when he falls below it, a strong grade is difficult to justify. While he contributed a clever assist on Berterame's goal, his inability to convert routine chances forced Miami into more anxious moments than necessary.
ST: Germán Berterame—A: At last! In his ninth appearance across all competitions, the Mexico international finally opened his account for Inter Miami, and fittingly it came via a Messi assist — exactly the scenario the club envisioned when they invested $15 million to acquire the imposing forward.
SUB: Dániel Pintér (46' for Reguilón)—A: Introduced at the break, Pintér provided greater attacking threat and delivered the tackle that ignited the offensive move leading to Berterame's 2–1 goal.
SUB: Gonzalo Luján (68' for Silvetti)—C: Luján's adaptability makes him a handy option within Miami's system, even if he rarely produces standout moments.
SUB: Luis Suárez (79' for Fray)—B: Luis Suárez is 38 years old and remains the most dangerous attacking option alongside Messi. He squandered two key chances in his brief cameo, yet made it abundantly clear that he can be a decisive impact substitute.
Subs not used: Rocco Ríos Novo (GK), Facundo Mura, Noah Allen, David Ayala, David Ruiz, Santiago Morales
What's Next For Inter Miami?
With the point earned, Inter Miami dropped to third in the Eastern Conference, still holding a one-point advantage over Red Bull New York.
They will have to be patient a little longer in their pursuit of a first Nu Stadium victory, now shifting their attention to an away fixture against the Colorado Rapids on April 18, to be held at Empower Field at Mile High — home of the NFL's Denver Broncos — in front of a crowd exceeding 60,000. Miami's next home appearance at Nu Stadium is scheduled for two weeks later, when they host the New England Revolution on April 25.