Sometimes a draw feels like a win.
Rather, sometimes another team’s draw feels like a win for you. That’s what happened tonight, when the prayers of the New York City FC faithful were rewarded by Inter Miami drawing Charlotte FC by the score of 2-2 at DRV PNK Stadium with an 84′ goal from substitute Robbie Robinson.
NYCFC playoff hopes were on the line. New York City would have been eliminated from playoff contention had Charlotte held on for the win, but this draw means that NYCFC are still in the running.
NYCFC now have a narrow, but not impossible, path to the postseason. New York City will advance if:
- NYCFC beat the Chicago Fire at Citi Field
- AND the New Jersey Red Bulls lose to Nashville SC in Tennessee
- AND Inter Miami draw or defeat Charlotte FC in North Carolina
All of those games will take place on Decision Day, which will be held this Saturday, October 21.
Every one of those results must go NYCFC’s way. If New York City draw or lose, or if New Jersey draw, or if Charlotte win, then NYCFC will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
Thank you, Miami
For now, let’s give a shoutout to a Miami who had nothing to play for but pride, and who were without their marquee signing Lionel Messi. Miami looked outclassed by Charlotte at times, and the hungrier side at others.
Statistically, the game tilted dramatically in Miami’s favor (2.15 xG, 16 shots, 7 on target). But Charlotte showed why they’re still contending (0.70 xG, 10 shots, 6 on target). They drew first blood with a 45′ goal from Argentine striker Enzo Copetti.
And that, seemingly, was that.
Miami might be the most exciting team in football when Messi is on the pitch, but they have struggled without him. The team last won on September 20, when they defeated the dumpster fire known as Toronto FC by the score of 4-0.
And yet something seemed to awaken in Miami as the game entered the final 15 minutes. They created one chance after another, running hard at a Charlotte defense that looked like they might break.
Eventually, Miami found the back of the net thanks to a slicing cross from Leo Campana that caught the Charlotte defense flat-footed.
Miami didn’t win tonight, but they did just enough to get a result, which is all NYCFC needed.
