Inter Miami can move a step closer to officially claiming the Supporters' Shield crown when they head to Yankee Stadium on Saturday to battle New York City FC.
Despite a 2-2 draw with Atlanta United in midweek, the Herons still hold the best record in Major League Soccer (MLS), while the Pigeons were beaten 5-1 by the Philadelphia Union and remain sixth in the Eastern Conference.
Match preview
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With five matches remaining, New York City are in a comfortable position to return to the post-season for the first time since 2022.
They are currently seven points above the Eastern Conference post-season line, but their current domestic form does not suggest they are a playoff team.
New York City FC are on an eight-match MLS winless run heading into this weekend, fresh off their worst domestic defeat under Nick Cushing on Wednesday.
A win this weekend would be their ninth at home in league play this year, which would surpass their total from a season ago (eight).
To this stage of the Major League Soccer campaign, the Boys in Blue have conceded 19 goals at home, 15 of which have come at Yankee Stadium.
NYCFC have won all four of their home matches against Miami, be it in the regular season or playoffs, without conceding in any of those encounters, outscoring them by a combined margin of 3-0 in their two meetings at Yankee Stadium.
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For the first time in over two months, Inter Miami failed to collect maximum points, squandering a 2-1 lead in the latter stages of their match with Atlanta.
Their lead atop the Eastern Conference is down to eight points, meaning they need seven points from their final five domestic affairs to clinch home-field advantage in the playoffs officially.
Miami are not only chasing home-field advantage, but they are also seeking their first Supporters' Shield title, currently eight points clear of the Los Angeles Galaxy and FC Cincinnati for the best record in the league.
Tata Martino returns to the sidelines this weekend after his suspension due to yellow card accumulation, looking to collect his 20th victory of the domestic campaign, which would be six more than the Herons' highest-ever total in this competition from 2022.
Inter Miami have never dropped points in consecutive MLS away games throughout the 2024 campaign, though they have won just one of their previous three matches as the visitors in this competition (4-1 over the Chicago Fire).
The Herons have not beaten a New York-based club away from home in this competition since defeating the New York Red Bulls 2-0 in August 2023.
Team News
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On Wednesday, Birk Risa missed a second successive encounter for NYCFC after sustaining an injury in the warmups before the match with DC United, while Malachi Jones was sidelined once again because of a broken tibia.
Julian Fernandez was an unused substitute despite being eligible to play following his suspension, and Agustin Ojeda was the only newcomer in the starting 11, replacing Maxi Moralez.
Alonso Martinez now has a dozen goals for the Boys in Blue in MLS this season, notching their only one in a losing effort versus Philly.
In midweek, Miami were without Diego Gomez due to a knock, Noah Allen sat out with a head injury, Matias Rojas has a sore ankle and CJ dos Santos is dealing with an issue in his hand.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez came on as substitutes Wednesday, Nicolas Freire and Facundo Farias are recovering from ACL injuries, Lawson Sunderland has a sore hamstring and Leo Afonso is recovering from a groin strain.
Sergio Busquets and Tomas Aviles can return for this encounter after missing their midweek affair because of yellow card accumulation.
David Ruiz put them in front Wednesday with a goal just before the half-hour mark, with Leonardo Campana netting his sixth of the MLS season.
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Freese; Ilenic, Martins, Tanasijevic, McFarlane; Sands, Parks; Wolf, Rodriguez, Mijatovic; Martinez
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Callender; Weigandt, Busquets, Aviles, Alba; Ruiz, Bright, Redondo; Gressel, Suarez, Messi
We say: New York City FC 1-2 Inter Miami
The veteran leadership of Miami will know how to bounce back from a minor setback, while the youngsters at NYCFC are still figuring out how to get back on track following a disappointment.
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