Lionel Messi remains day to day, while Luis Suárez leads Inter Miami in 1-1 draw vs. NYCFC

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi may have been watching from the sidelines, but Luis Suárez was the show for Inter Miami.

Suárez scored early in the first half, but missed shot after shot after shot in the second half – growing more and more enraged with angst and fire to find the back of the net like he has during his storied career in the sport.

Suárez delivered the drama after each miss following his header goal scored in the 15th minute, and Inter Miami escaped with a 1-1 draw against New York City FC at Chase Stadium on Saturday night.

Messi, the Inter Miami and Argentine star, watched from the bench and did not play against NYCFC due to his right hamstring injury. He remains day to day, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said after the game.

The goal is for Messi to be healthy for Wednesday’s home match against LIGA MX club Monterrey in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals. The tournament is Inter Miami’s second chance to compete for a championship after Messi led their run to the Leagues Cup title last summer shortly after his arrival to MLS.

“We’ll see, they’re going day by day. Depending on what happens the next four days, we’ll see if they’re available or not,” Martino said of Messi and defender Nico Freire, who is also dealing with a hamstring injury.

“The game on Wednesday is against an important team but we also have to think about the whole year. I don’t anticipate to say they’re out of the game, but we’ll look at it Sunday and Monday, and Tuesday we’ll decide it.”

Meanwhile, in Messi’s injury absence, Suárez has helped Inter Miami stay afloat this season and near the top of the MLS Eastern Conference.

Suárez scored on a header via a pass from Julian Gressel, while NYCFC’s Alonso Martinez scored in the 35th minute to even the final score.  

Suárez battled referees as much as he did defenders, and even instigated a brief tussle with the NYCFC goalie Mark Freeze, who laid on the pitch as the 90^th minute approached but insisted Suárez hit him in the head after a contest.

Suárez has scored five goals in MLS play, tied for the league lead, and seven goals overall in all competitions – not bad for the divisive 37-year-old Uruguayan star.

“Luis was a great competitor up until the very end. He had a great game,” Martino said happy with the opportunities Suárez tried to score — eight shots overall, with five on target. 

Inter Miami will play Monterrey at home Wednesday and visit the club in Mexico on April 10. The club also has two more Saturday matches: at home vs. Colorado on April 6 and vs. Sporting Kansas City on April 13 at Aarowhead Stadium.

Luis Suárez misses on give-and-go pass: Inter Miami 1, NYCFC 1

Luis Suárez has missed shot after shot after shot in this second half, including a brilliant give-and-go Marcelo Weigandt in the 80^th minute.

Luis Suárez misses sliding kick toward net: Inter Miami 1, NYCFC 1

Luis Suárez and Julian Gressel nearly connected on another score. Suárez was unable to connect with a sliding kick on Gressel’s pass from the right side in the 67^th minute.

Suárez, the Uruguayan striker, appeared to stop just for a second during his stride, and it proved to be the difference. He barely missed a chance to score his second goal of the match.

Luis Suárez misses shot on goal: Inter Miami 1, NYCFC 1

After a series of dribbling on their side of the field, Inter Miami made its move.

It ended with a pass from former Barcelona stars Jordi Alba to Suárez, whose left boot was stopped by NYCFC goalie Matt Freese in the 56^th minute.

It was a pretty sequence, but to no avail.

Sergio Busquets, Inter Miami with nice stop: Inter Miami 1, NYCFC 1

Sergio Busquets with a sliding defense to block Alonso Martinez, who was lining up his second goal of the game, in the 49^th minute.

Shortly after, NYCFC nearly scored off a corner kick on ensuing sequence. Thiago Martins and Mounsef Bakrar missed off the left post. Bakrar had a crosser that missed outside the right post.

Alonso Martínez goal: Inter Miami 1, NYCFC 1

Inter Miami’s defense, the club’s biggest crutch in the Messi era, left a big hole and NYCFC made it pay.

Alonso Martínez scored in the 35th minute to tie this match at 1.

Luis Suárez goal: Inter Miami 1, NYCFC 0

“El Pistolero” has struck again as Luis Suárez scored in the 15^th minute of the match to give Inter Miami a 1-0 lead over NYCFC.

Suarez scored on a header via a pass from Julian Gressel, his fifth goal of the MLS season and seventh since he joined Inter Miami.

It’s also the sixth goal scored in the first half by Inter Miami during the regular season.

Messi arrives at Inter Miami match

With a wave for fans, Messi arrived just before kickoff for Inter Miami's match against NYCFC. He'll watch from the bench.

How to watch Inter Miami vs. NYCFC live stream?

Inter Miami's match against New York City FC will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET, and broadcast by MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Here are Inter Miami vs. NYCFC starting lineups

Here's a unique strategy by Inter Miami: Sergio Busquets, who is usually a midfielder is playing closer to the net defensively as a left center back.

The move allows Honduran standout David Ruiz to take the middle of the field, where his youth and speed could help Inter Miami on both ends with Federico Redondo out for the next eight weeks with a knee injury.

Inter Miami vs. NYCFC predictions 

Inter Miami 3, NYCFC 0: Luis Suárez gets back on track with two goals, and he’ll have help from another Inter Miami teammate to cruise at home. —Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter

WATCH: Messi and Inter Miami host NYC FC on Apple TV

TICKETS: See Inter Miami in person at home against NYC FC

SHOP: Get the latest Messi and Inter Miami gear from the MLS Store

How did Messi injury his hamstring?

Messi left with an injured hamstring in the 50th minute of Inter Miami's Champions Cup round-of-16 win over Nashville SC on March 13. He also favored his hamstring during a March 7 match against Nashville.

The hamstring injury also caused Messi to miss two Argentina friendlies this month: Argentina beat El Salvador 3-0 on March 22 in Philadelphia, and beat Costa Rica 3-1 on March 26 in Los Angeles. Both matches were warmups for this summer’s Copa America 2024.

How has Inter Miami fared without Messi?

Inter Miami has played three matches without Messi this season. They won one of them, but have lost the other two.

Messi watched from the bench as Inter Miami lost 3-2 to Montreal FC on March 10. Messi did not travel, but praised Inter Miami after a 3-1 win over D.C. United on March 16. And Inter Miami was held scoreless in a 4-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls last Saturday.

When will Messi retire? Here's what he said about retirement

Messi has not thought about retirement just yet, and hopes “to continue playing for a while longer” during a podcast released this week, but recorded while he was in Saudi Arabia for Inter Miami’s preseason tour in February.

“I know that (I'll retire) the moment I feel that I am no longer able to perform, that I'm not enjoying myself, that I'm not helping my teammates,” Messi said on MBC1’s Big Time Podcast.

“I am very self-critical. I know when I am good, when I am bad, when I play well, when I play badly. And when I feel it is time to take that step, I will take it without thinking about age. If I feel good, I will always try to continue competing, because it is what I like and what I know how to do.”

Could Neymar attend Inter Miami vs. NYCFC game?

Brazilian soccer star Neymar Jr. has spent the week in Miami, attending a Heat game, watching some Miami Open tennis with Heat star Jimmy Butler, throwing the opening pitch at the Marlins season opener, and having dinner with Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham.

Could Neymar, Messi’s close friend, attend Saturday’s match between Inter Miami and NYCFC? Here’s more on Neymar’s dinner with Beckham, and his connection with Messi.