October 18, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Inter Miami CF News Release
NEW YORK – Inter Miami CF closed its 2022 Major League Soccer (MLS) season with a 3-0 Round One Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs loss on the road to New York City FC. The match brought to a close a successful season that saw Inter Miami reach the postseason for the second time in its brief three-year history, host a fully packed house at DRV PNK Stadium for the first time, and finish with the most points and highest seed in a single season in Club history. The match also closed legendary forward Gonzalo Higuaín’s illustrious 17-and-a-half-year career.
“I think the players have been unbelievable…but we want to win, we want to challenge, we want to go deep into the playoffs. We want to get to semifinals, we want to get to finals. We want to finish in the top four, we want a home playoff match,” said head coach Phil Neville. “It’s a baby step forward. I think we’ve changed the way that people look at Inter Miami. I think that was important.”
Inter Miami opened its 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs with one change to the starting XI from its Decision Day match a week ago. Drake Callender started in goal; DeAndre Yedlin, Damion Lowe, Aimé Mabika and Chris McVey started in defense; Jean Mota, captain Gregore and Alejandro Pozuelo formed the midfield three; Robert Taylor and Ariel Lassiter started on the wings either side of in-form striker Higuaín in attack.
Pozuelo, who bagged a brace in his last regular season match against NYCFC, returned to the starting XI after missing the team’s final two regular season matches due to a groin injury.
A tense half began with Pozuelo aiming to continue his strong form against New York, as the midfielder probed the defense in the fourth minute, evaded two defenders and curled a left-footed shot just wide of the post from the edge of the box.
The team then appeared to net the opening goal in the 23rd minute when a beautiful buildup resulted in McVey playing a perfect ball for Higuaín in front of goal that the striker calmly finished at the near post, but it was called offside.
In the 28th minute, Mabika made an acrobatic goal-line clearance on a chipped shot from forward Héber that was going into the back of the net to deny the hosts the opening goal.
Both teams then had a couple of opportunities each in attack before in the remaining minutes of the half, but the match went into the break scoreless.
Inter Miami started the second half creating its best chance in the…
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