05 July 2023 , 12:42
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After blockbuster transfers and the promise of more deals, it is easy to forget that it has been something of a year to forget for Inter Miami on the pitch.
It feels a long time ago now, but Phil Neville was only dismissed from his role as Herons head coach just over a month ago, with the team languishing bottom of the MLS Western Conference. Fortunes have not really improved since then either, and the struggling outfit came into its most recent fixture having failed to win in seven attempts.
In fact, with a record of just five wins and 13 defeats during this current campaign, there is little doubt that reinforcements have long been required if they are to arrest the slide. Thankfully, with the MLS transfer window now open, the fledgling franchise's ambitious owners have a timely opportunity to bring in new additions.
Incoming superstars Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets will have their work cut out when they arrive in America, however. This said, despite the South Beach team's woes so far this season, a dramatic last-minute 2-2 draw against the Columbus Crew will leave the club's newest recruits feeling optimistic that they can turn things around.
It had looked as though Vice City was primed to fall to yet another defeat, with their opponents from Ohio having scored either side of a Leonardo Campana strike to make it 2-1 heading into injury time. Darlington Nagbe notched the opener for the Crew, with a well-taken left-footed volley, before Miami responded with Campana heading home past goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.
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They were level for just 12 minutes, however, with a lapse in concentration from Inter Miami's defensive unit allowing Christian Ramirez to seemingly send his team on the way to victory on the road. Luckily, though, legendary marksman Josef Martinez was on hand to earn his team a point and stave off a seventh defeat in eight games.
A well-weighted cross into the box from the lively Campana found the Venezuelan forward who was able to lash a sumptuous bicycle-kick into the net, while also writing himself into the league's record books in the process. The 30-year-old striker, who was a prolific goalscorer for previous club Atlanta United, netted his 104th regular-season strike, which duly drew him level with Dwayne De Rosario for the ninth-most goals in MLS history.
Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández celebrates his goal in the second half (Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)With incoming head coach Tata Martino watching on, the result means that Inter Miami's players have picked up points in their two most recent fixtures. The former Barcelona and Argentina boss represents yet another coup for the club and will be tasked with masterminding a rise up the standings in the coming months once his work visa is approved.
Although they are without a win in nine outings in the league, the club's new recruits will now hope that the point versus the Crew keeps their playoffs ambitions alive. Currently, the Floridan franchise sits some nine points off Montreal in the final playoffs place after 20 rounds.
With Messi slated to play his first game in a Herons jersey against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup on July 21, the team will need to keep within touching distance of the teams above them to stand a chance of making the showpiece post-season tournament.