NYCFC gives Inter Miami first loss on deflection goal

Santiago Rodriguez's free kick was deflected in by an opposing defender in the first half as New York City Football Club recorded a 1-0 victory over Inter Miami CF in its home opener at Yankee Stadium on Saturday night.

NYCFC improved to 6-0-2 in home openers in the Bronx but after scoring nine goals in their previous two home openers at Yankee Stadium, they were held to one goal for the second straight week.

In the 36th minute, Keaton Parks was fouled by Miami's Gregore and Rodriguez took the kick from the right side. Rodriguez's kick from about 30 yards out hooked into a scramble in front of the net and was sent past Miami goalkeeper Drew Callender by Miami defender Christopher McVey

NYCFC (1-1-1, 4 points) improved to 8-1-2 in its past 11 regular-season matches at Yankee Stadium and nearly scored again in the 89th, but Callender made a kick save with his right leg on Rodriguez's right-footed attempt.

Miami (2-1-0, 6 points) was unable to win a third straight after posting 2-0 victories over Philadelphia and Montreal, though former Golden Boot winner Josef Martinez had ample opportunities to score his first goal since being acquired from Atlanta in the offseason.

Inter Miami also lost Gregore to an apparent serious leg injury in the 70th

Callender made seven saves after stopping 10 shots in the first two contests.

NYCFC goalkeeper Luis Barraza made three saves for his fourth career shutout.

After neither team had a shot on goal in the opening 12 minutes, New York's Gabriel Pereira was denied on a left-footed shot two minutes later and then both teams had goals disallowed.

Martinez was caught offside in the 20th after moving the ball in between his legs in the 20th minute and then his header was stopped two minutes later.

New York's non-goal occurred in the 23rd when Matias Pellegrini was ruled offside while sweeping a rebound into the net.

NYCFC nearly scored again early in the second, but Pellegrini's shot sailed high and curled to the left of the net. In the 61st, Rodriguez was unable to score when Callender stopped him in the center of the box and 20 minutes later, Braian Cufre's shot from the left side was stopped in the top right corner.

--Field Level Media