There was a moment early in the afternoon at Yankee Stadium when it felt like the game might drift away from Inter Miami. Chances came quickly, especially for Lionel Messi, but none seemed to settle. Shots clipped the post, struck the crossbar, or found the goalkeeper. It was the kind of first half that tests patience more than quality.

By the final whistle, that tension had flipped into something else entirely.

Inter Miami recovered from a difficult stretch to defeat New York City FC 3-2 on Sunday, with Messi eventually finding the breakthrough that had eluded him earlier. His free kick in the second half, counted as the 901st goal of his career, brought the match level at a critical moment and shifted the balance of play.

The game opened sharply. Gonzalo Lugan gave Miami an early lead inside three minutes, reacting quickest to a rebound during a corner sequence. But New York City FC responded with control and precision. Nicolás Fernández equalized in the 17th minute, and the match settled into a rhythm where both sides looked capable without fully asserting dominance.

Messi remained at the center of Miami’s attack. He was involved in nearly every forward movement, but his finishing deserted him in the first half. Attempts in the 31st and 42nd minutes struck woodwork, while another effort was turned away.

The second half changed the tone quickly. Agustín Ojeda put NYCFC ahead in the 59th minute, a moment that briefly silenced Miami’s momentum. The response, however, was immediate. Messi’s free kick, aided by a deflection, found its way past goalkeeper Matt Freeze just a minute later to level the score again.

From there, Miami looked more composed.

Micael dos Santos delivered the decisive moment in the 74th minute, rising to meet a cross and guiding a header into the net. It was his first goal for the club, mirroring Lugan’s earlier contribution and underlining how much Miami relied on its defenders in key moments.

The closing minutes were not comfortable. New York City FC pressed forward, and a stoppage-time header from Aiden O’Neill forced a sharp save from Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. It proved to be the final turning point, preserving the narrow lead.

The result carried added weight for Inter Miami, coming just days after a disappointing exit from the Concacaf Champions Cup. There was an evident urgency in how the team approached the match, particularly in the second half where control returned after brief setbacks.

Head coach Javier Mascherano, serving a suspension, watched from a distance as interim manager Leandro Stillitano guided the team through a demanding contest. The response on the field suggested a group still adjusting but capable of resilience when required.

Messi’s performance, despite early misses, reflected that same persistence. His involvement never dropped, and when the opportunity arrived, he delivered in a way that changed the direction of the match.

For New York City FC, the defeat will likely feel avoidable. They led twice and created enough moments to hold the advantage, but defensive lapses and Miami’s late composure made the difference.

As Inter Miami prepares for the upcoming international window, the win offers a timely reset. It does not erase recent setbacks, but it restores a measure of confidence heading into the next phase of the season.