MLS New York City FC

Flashback: Miami Heat

Published on March 8, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York City FC News Release


New York City Football Club are back on home soil on Saturday.

Nick Cushing's side will step out onto our own turf for the first time in 2023, welcoming Inter Miami CF to Yankee Stadium in a 7:30pm ET kick-off.

Ahead of the clash, we Flashback to three memorable home triumphs against the Herons...

Two For Taty

Taty Castellanos at the double...

City's first visit of Miami saw the Boys in Blue record a comfortable 2-0 win, thanks to the Argentine's first-half brace.

The City Boys had already defeated the 2020 expansion side twice in Florida, and made it three from three in August 2021.

Maxi Moralez was the creator for the opener, whipping an inch-perfect delivery into Castellanos' path for the striker to head home at the backpost, and finish off a beautiful flowing move right on the 20-minute mark.

The lead was doubled on the brink of half-time, as Moralez collected Malte Amundsen's throw-in and clipped into Thiago, whose resulting shot struck the arm of Kelvin Leerdam to earn a penalty.

Eventual Golden Boot-winner Castellanos took responsibility for the spot-kick, bagging his fifth goal in six games with a cheeky Panenka down the middle, to secure the points and extend our unbeaten run to six games.

Magic Maxi

Conjuring more remarkable moments...

It was another influential display from City's 'little magician', as Moralez broke the deadlock against Miami in July 2022.

The Argentine found the net from a seemingly impossible angle, latching onto Castellanos' clever through-ball, riding the challenge of Ryan Sailor, and drilling through the legs of Drake Callender for his first of the season.

On the back of a hard-fought 1-0 Hudson River Derby triumph, City took just 12 minutes to open the scoring, and would have taken a two-goal advantage into the break if not for VAR ruling Castellanos' tap-in offside, with the forward desperate for a goal to mark his emotional farewell appearance.

Substitute Héber made sure of the points, sliding in to convert Amundsen's deflected cross with 15 minutes remaining, maintaining our impressive run against the Floridian side, and ensuring Castellanos departed on a positive note.

ElectriCity

An unforgettable night under the lights...

Miami are City's most recent visitors, with the two sides having last locked horns at Citi Field in the 2022 MLS Playoffs.

The pair faced off in Round One, and inspired by an electric home atmosphere, the Boys in Blue produced a superb second half display to net three goals, clinching passage into the Eastern Conference Semifinals in emphatic style.

Gabriel Pereira set the City Boys on our way with a delightful curled effort into the top corner, before Maxi Moralez struck just six minutes later, finishing off a sensational 19-pass move with another sweet strike.

Héber added the icing to the cake in injury time to cap an incredible night, sparking jubilant scenes and cranking up NYCFC's momentum in the playoff push.

NYCFC are back on home soil, welcoming Inter Miami CF to Yankee Stadium in our 2023 home opener on Saturday, March 11th (7:30pm ET). Tickets for the game are available now!

Join us at our pre-match Home Opener Celebration between 5-7pm at Billy's Sports Bar in the Bronx, and get in the mood for our first home game of 2023 with a DJ, food and drinks, games and raffle prizes! Register here.

Sign-up for MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app - and never miss a moment of the 2023 season. Stream every regular-season, playoff, and Leagues Cup match. Every Screen. No Blackouts.

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 8, 2023


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