Campana and Martínez score to earn point;
Martínez nets spectacular late equalizer to take MLS regular season tally to 104 and be tied for the ninth-most goals in MLS history
MIAMI (July 4, 2023) – Inter Miami CF (5W-13L-2D, 17 points) earned a 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew at DRV PNK Stadium on Tuesday night. The result came thanks to goals from the team’s strikers Leonardo Campana, who was voted Heineken Star of the Match, and second-half substitute Josef Martínez, who struck with a spectacular acrobatic 90th minute equalizer.
“To tie the game in the last minute was a great feeling, we always focus on pushing for the win and fighting whenever a team comes here [to DRV PNK Stadium],” said Interim Head Coach Javier Morales. “The whole team fought to try to get the three points, but we finished the game strong together and we hope to carry this type of energy onwards.”
Drake Callender started in goal; Ian Fray, Sergii Kryvtsov and Noah Allen started in central defense; David Ruiz and Dixon Arroyo anchored the midfield with Benjamin Cremaschi and Robert Taylor flanking them as wingbacks; Nicolás Stefanelli and Rodolfo Pizarro started in attack just below striker Leonardo Campana.
Campana returned to the starting XI donning the captain’s armband, while on the bench, defender Ryan Sailor returned to a matchday squad after recovering from injury. Inter Miami II defender Tyler Hall and midfielder Lawson Sunderland, meanwhile, also featured on the bench on short-term agreements from the Club’s MLS NEXT Pro team.
Cremaschi made his presence felt as a wingback in the first half, tracking back diligently and making three key defensive interventions to stifle the Columbus attack.
In the 23rd minute, though, Columbus took the lead; a corner was swung into the box and punched away by Callender, but Darlington Nagbe connected with the clearance and volleyed a strike from outside of the box to take the 0-1 lead.
Inter Miami ended the half with 53% possession, but the one-goal deficit remained intact at the break.
The hosts swung momentum in the 57rd minute, claiming an equalizer; a corner delivery from Robert Taylor came to Campana in front of goal, where the Ecuadorian rose up and powered a header past the keeper to level the match 1-1. The goal was Campana’s fourth of the MLS season, while the assist was Taylor’s third.
Columbus then reclaimed its lead in the 69th minute when Cucho Hernández drove a low ball across goal to Christian Ramírez at the back post, who connected to make it 1-2.
Inter Miami then pushed in attack in search of the equalizer throughout the remaining minutes and was rewarded in the 90th minute when Martínez scored in spectacular fashion; Fray split a defense with a calculated through ball to Campana, the striker then patiently controlled the ball before chipping a ball back to the center of the box, where Martínez connected with a perfectly timed scissor kick to the top corner of the net. The goal brought Martínez’s MLS regular season tally up to 104 to tie Dwayne De Rosario for ninth-most goals in MLS history, and it was his sixth of the campaign, most on the team. The assist, meanwhile, was Campana’s second this season and the secondary assist marked Fray’s first MLS assist.
The 2-2 scoreline then remained unchanged for Inter Miami to secure another point at home following Saturday’s draw.
Next the team will travel to face D.C. United on the road on Saturday, July 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Audi Field.
Scoring Summary:
MIA – Leonardo Campana (Robert Taylor) 57’, Josef Martínez (Leonardo Campana, Ian Fray) 90’
CLB – Darlington Nagbe 23’, Christian Ramírez (Cucho Hernández) 69’
Misconduct Summary:
MIA – Robert Taylor (Yellow Card 79’)
CLB – Max Arfsten (Yellow Card 38’), Darlington Nagbe (Yellow Card 90’+2)
Lineups / Substitutions:
Inter Miami CF – GK Drake Callender; D Ian Fray, Sergii Kryvtsov, Noah Allen; M Benjamin Cremaschi, David Ruiz (Edison Azcona 88’), Dixon Arroyo, Robert Taylor; F Nicolás Stefanelli (Josef Martínez 74’), Rodolfo Pizarro; Leonardo Campana
Unused Substitutes – GK CJ dos Santos; D Tyler Hall, Chris McVey, Harvey Neville, Ryan Sailor; M Lawson Sunderland; F Shanyder Borgelin
Columbus Crew – GK Patrick Schulte; D Sean Zawadzki, Milos Degenek, Malte Amundsen; M Mohamed Farsi, Alexandru Matan (Isaiah Parente 81’), Darlington Nagbe, Max Arfsten (Yaw Yeboah 65’); F Lucas Zelarayán, Christian Ramírez (Steven Moreira 81’), Cucho Hernández
Unused Substitutes – GK Evan Bush; D Jimmy Medranda, Gustavo Vallecilla, Josh Williams, Philip Quinton; M Luis Díaz
Details of the Game:
Date: July 4, 2023
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Stadium: DRV PNK Stadium
Attendance: 14,072
Stats:
Possession:
MIA – 61%
CLB – 39%
Shots:
MIA – 9
CLB – 13
Saves:
MIA – 1
CLB – 3
Corners:
MIA – 2
CLB – 5
Fouls:
MIA – 9
CLB – 12
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