By Miguel Rapetti
Sep 21, 2024, 6:44 PM EDT
With the irony that has characterized him throughout his career, Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino appeared this Saturday at the press conference following his team’s 1-1 draw in New York to face New York City FC.
In a match that ended with a last-minute equaliser by James Sands for New York City and which also marked Lionel Messi’s first visit to New York, Tata Martino left a message for the referee of the game when asked if he thought his team lacked something to take the three points back home.
“I don’t know if the team lacked something. I would say that the match lacked a good referee,” said the Argentine coach.
Part of Martino’s complaint is due to an alleged foul committed against his team’s Yannick Bright seconds before Sands scored the equalising goal and which in the end was not reviewed by the referee or the VAR team.
“I think we played a good game and we should have won. If the referee or the VAR had called the terrible foul on Yannick Bright at the end of the game, we would have won 1-0,” he said.
After two consecutive draws away from home (both conceded in the final minutes and after leading at the end), Lionel Messi’s team remains leader of the East with 64 points and is the clear favorite to win the MLS Supporters’ Shield, a title that recognizes the best MLS team in the regular season.
However, pursuers such as FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew could close the gap on Inter Miami in the remainder of the matchday on Saturday.
Continue reading:
- Tata Martino speculates on seeing Inter Miami in the Club World Cup: “Who wouldn’t like that?”
- Ecuadorian Leonardo Campana became Inter Miami’s all-time top scorer
- Martino confirms Messi’s return this Saturday with Inter Miami