New York City FC has won six of its seven meetings with Inter Miami FC (L1), including the first-round 3-0 victory that knocked the Herons out of the playoffs last season. NYCFC has outscored Miami 7-0 in each of its three home matches against them.
The first two games of the season, both played on the road, netted New York City FC one point. NYCFC won 10 home games during the regular season, more than Los Angeles Football Club (13) and the Philadelphia Union (12). In all competitions, NYCFC has won 13 of its last 19 home games, including the last four (D4 L2).
For the first time in club history, Inter Miami FC has started the season with consecutive victories, keeping clean sheets in both games. In the history of the MLS, only two teams have begun a season with three consecutive shutout victories: Seattle Sounders in 2009 and the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2010 respectively.
In Saturday’s 0-0 draw with the Chicago Fire, Brazilian Gabriel Pereira scored New York City FC’s first goal of 2023, continuing the trend of the team’s attack being influenced by South America. South Americans have scored 44 of the team’s 45 MLS goals (not including own goals) since mid-May of last year, including the last 19.
Even though Miami’s star acquisition Josef Martinez only attempted two shots in his first two games, neither of which was successful, the team is off to a strong start. In Martinez’s MLS career, this is only the third time he has failed to score in two consecutive starts—he did it in September 2018 and mid-May 2021.
