NYCFC vs Inter Miami LIVE Updates: Micael gives the Herons the lead once again (2-3)

Inter Miami secure a thrilling 3-2 win for the first time at the Yankee Stadium against NYCFC.

O'Neill headed the ball inside the box, but a great response from  Dt. Clair denies NYCFC the equalizer.

Six minutes were give of added time!

With time running out, Freese ventured forward for a corner and got his head to the ball, but his effort drifted just wide of the post.

Coach Jansen makes use of his last sub window: Agustin Ojeda and Tayvon Gray out, Seymour Garfield-Reid and Andrew Baiera in.

After driving forward and leaving several defenders in his wake, Messi's shot lacked power and was comfortably gathered by Freese.

Coach Jansen makes the second substitution for the home side: Talles Magno in, Hannes Wolf out.

Germán Berterame thought he had opened his Inter Miami account, but the goal was chalked off after Pinter, the player who delivered the cross, was flagged for offside.

Inter Miami make more substitutions: German Berterame, Facundo Mura, and David Ruiz in, Mateo Silvetti, and Yannick Bright Ian Fray out.

After Inter Miami's goal, Pascal Jansen makes the first modification: Keaton Parks comes off for Jonathan Shore.

After a weighed cross to the far post from Noah Allen, Micael headed home the third goal for Inter Miami.

Following Messi's equalizer, Inter Miami have dropped deeper and are sitting in their own half, looking to hit NYCFC on the counter when the opportunity arises.

Mascherano's assistant Stillitano makes Inter Miami's first change of the game, bringing on Daniel Pinter in place of Tadeo Allende.

Stepping up to take the free kick, Messi let fly from distance, and with a fortunate deflection in Nico Gonzalez, the ball found its way into the net just a minute after Ojeda's opener to level the score.

Maxi Moralez sees the yellow card after taking Lionel Messi down.

After a lethal counter built from deep, Moráles threaded a perfectly weighted through ball to release Ojeda in behind, and the winger made no mistake in a one-on-one with St. Clair to give NYCFC the lead.

After a foul on the middle of the pitch, Tadeo Allende joins Micael and Gonzalo Lujan as the Inter Miami players with a yellow card.

After kicking the ball outside the field, Micael sees the yellow card for Inter Miami.

Despite struggling to test St. Clair directly, NYCFC continue to put Inter Miami under pressure, constantly threatening around the edge of the area.

Referee Villarreal blows the whistle, and the second half between NYCFC and Inter Miami is underway.

NYCFC and Inter Miami head into the break level at 1-1, with Gonzalo Luján's early opener cancelled out by Nicolás Fernández's stunning free kick.

Two minutes have been given of added time for the first half!

A constant threat throughout, Messi drifted to the left after combining with Ian Fray, brought the ball down superbly on his chest and unleashed a right-footed effort that narrowly missed the target.

Cutting inside to the edge of the box once again, Messi struck the crossbar with a fierce effort, and as the ball dropped, Segovia pounced on the rebound only to be denied by another sharp save from Freese.

Halting a NYCFC counterattack by bringing down Ojeda, Gonzalo Luján picks up the first yellow card of the game for Inter Miami.

Leading the attack once again, Messi played the ball to Segovia, who laid it back to the left for the Argentine to unleash another powerful strike, only to be denied once more by a fine save from Freese.

Catching Inter Miami on the break, Maxi Moráles tried his luck from distance, but St. Clair had little trouble dealing with the effort.

Breaking quickly from a NYCFC corner, Messi drove forward and cut inside before curling a shot toward the far post, only to see it clip the woodwork with no teammate on hand to convert the rebound.

After Messi shifted the ball from the right into the center, Micael tried his luck from distance but sent his effort well wide of the goal.

After a slick combination orchestrated by Messi, Noah Allen whipped in a cross for Telasco Segovia, who got off a shot, only for Kai Trewin to get in the way with a vital block.

Following the equalizer, NYCFC have lifted their intensity and are now pressing high up the pitch, causing Inter Miami problems down both flanks.

Stepping up to take the free kick, Nicolás Fernández struck the ball with tremendous power, sending it up and over the wall before it clipped the crossbar and bounced down into the goal, leaving St. Clair with no chance.

Fernandez tries to control the ball with his chest, but it's brought down in Micael

After the first minutes with several chances for the Herons, NYCFC are beginning to find their footing and grow into the game

Moments after keeping out a Silvetti effort, Freese was called into action again, this time producing a fine save to deny Messi's curled shot and keep the deficit at one.

From a Messi corner, Telasco Segovia latched onto the rebound on the edge of the box, and when the ball broke loose again, defender Gonzalo Luján was on hand to apply the finish and give Inter Miami an early lead.

Referee Armando Villarreal blows his whistle, and the game between NYCFC and Inter Miami for the 2026 MLS is underway!

After a prolific 2025 campaign under Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami's attack has fallen off a cliff in 2026, a slump that played a significant role in their Champions Cup elimination against Nashville.

The contrast with last season is stark. The Herons scored 129 goals in 58 games in 2025, averaging 2.2 goals per game. In 2026, they have managed just seven goals in six games across all competitions, a drop of 1.1 goals per game that represents a troubling trend for the defending MLS champions.

Armando Villarreal will take charge of Sunday's MLS clash. The 39-year-old has overseen 21 NYCFC matches, posting a record of nine wins, two draws and 10 defeats, while in 12 Inter Miami games his record stands at five wins, two draws and five defeats.

Sunday's game will mark the first time Villarreal has refereed a meeting between the Boys in Blue and the Herons.

Match officiating team:

Referee: Armando Villarreal
First assistant: Jeremy Hanson
Second assistant: Tyler Wyrostek
Fourth official: Marcos DeOliveira
VAR: Lukasz Szpala
AVAR: Craig Lowry

In a starting lineup packed with quality, Rodrigo De Paul's absence stands out as the most significant. The Argentine midfielder picked up a knock during the Nashville game and sat out training on Saturday, leading the coaching staff to give him the day off as a precaution.

Maxi Falcón and Sergio Reguilon are also unavailable, both sidelined through injury.

German Berterame, acquired from Rayados de Monterrey for $15 million and expected to be a reliable source of goals for Inter Miami, has struggled to make an impact so far, and coach Javier Mascherano has taken notice.

The Argentine forward has been dropped to the bench for the second time this season, the first being the rotated lineup against Charlotte FC. With this latest decision, Mascherano is sending a clear message to the Mexico international that answers are needed sooner rather than later.

The Herons' head coach Javier Mascherano makes some changes from Nashville SC game to face NYCFC (4-3-3): Dayne St. Clair; Ian Fray, Gonzalo Lujan, Micael, Noah Allen; Yannick Bright, David Ayala, Telasco Segovia; Tadeo Allende, Lionel Messi, Mateo Silvetti.

Head coach Pascal Jansen has confirmed the starting lineup against the Herons (4-2-3-1): Matt Freese; Tayvon Gray, Thiago Martins, Kai Trewin, Kevin O'Toole; Aiden O'Neill, Keaton Parks; Agustin Ojeda, Maxi Moralez, Hannes Wolf; Nicolas Fernandez.

NYCFC and Inter Miami will face off at 1:00pm (ET).

You can watch the MLS live on Apple TV.

Welcome to our live blog for the match between New York City FC  and Inter Miami on Matchday 5 of the 2026 MLS season. Stay tuned for key updates and live minute-by-minute coverage!