Inter Miami runs out of magic, eliminated from MLS playoffs with 3-0 road loss to NYCFC

They came to the Big Apple determined to pull off a big surprise in the first round of the MLS playoffs.

Instead, Inter Miami’s season and Gonzalo Higuain’s distinguished career ended with a 3-0 loss to defending champions New York City FC. The game remained scoreless for 63 minutes, but then NYCFC scored three goals to crush Miami’s dreams and the Citi Field crowd of 18,066 went wild.

“Go back to Miami!” the fans chanted, over and over.

Gabriel Pereira, a Brazilian midfielder, scored the first after a Miami defensive blunder left him alone and he curled it high to the far post. New York doubled its lead six minutes later with a goal by Argentine Maxi Moralez. The final goal came in extra time, when unmarked Brazilian player Heber knocked in a rebound after a save by Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender.

Miami was known for late-game heroics this season, but the magic ran out on a rainy Monday night.

Inter Miami coach Phil Neville, dejected after an emotional post-game locker room, said he was proud of his team’s improbable run to the playoffs, but disappointed that the postseason ended so soon. He blamed the loss on individual errors, lack of experience, and New York’s high caliber play, especially in the second half.

“We were well-beaten. When you’re playing games of this magnitude, mistakes are going to cost you,” Neville said. “I told the players that they know now what it takes to get into the playoffs; but more importantly, they now know what it takes to perform in a playoff game. That’s the extra 20 percent we need to add to this team for next season. They’ve had a great learning experience even though it hurts and we’re all emotional.”

It’s time for Inter Miami to reward Phil Neville, Chris Henderson with new contracts | Opinion

Neville said the locker room was perhaps the most emotional scene he had seen during his career, between the pain of the loss and the farewell to Higuain, who played his last game and is retiring after a career that spanned nearly 18 years, three World Cups, and stints at River Plate, Real Madrid and Juventus.

“We’ve shared some really emotional moments with Gonzalo, who is coming to end of an incredible career and the way he feels is the way we all feel in terms of being upset because we really felt we had a chance,” Neville said.

After scoring just two goals through the first 18 games, being booed and benched, Higuain regained his form and his love for the game, and scored 14 goals over the final 17 games. He is a finalist for MLS Comeback Player of the Year.

“He’s had real difficult moments, a lot has been questioned of him, a lot has been aimed at him and his form was not as good as it should have been, but what we said to him is that he’s leaving exactly as he should be,” Neville said. “He’s leaving with the goals he scored, the happiness with which he’s played, the way he’s embraced and carried his teammates. He can be massively proud.”

An introspective Higuain spoke for nearly 30 minutes with the media after the game, saying that although he is leaving a sport he loves dearly, he leaves with a clear conscience because he gave his all and believes he will be remembered as a good person, which is most important to him.

He also revealed that he plans to stay in Miami with his family and wants to study mental health and become a mental health coach for soccer players because he feels it is fundamental in professional sports, and any profession, and feels it needs more attention.

When the final whistle sounded, Higuain broke down, bent to his knees and then kept his hands on the grass in a moment of reflection. Asked how he felt at that moment, the Argentine star said: “I felt that it’s all over, that the job I loved so much for half my life had ended. All the images raced through my head, the memories of what I had been through, all the work, and I leave very proud because I gave it my everything until this last game. Now it is time to start a new stage of life.”

Higuain felt Monday’s game was “a great matchup” but New York took advantage of Miami mistakes. He hopes the Inter Miami players returning next season will learn from the experience.

“I wish them all the best for next season,” Higuain said. “They’ve experienced being in a playoff and hopefully they’ll be ready for this type of game next time...It was great for us to reach the playoffs and contributing to that to help these young guys experience such a high-caliber game fills my heart with joy. I know what it’s like to play in these types of games; I was lucky enough to play in many and now they have lived it and hopefully it will help them in the future.”

Although the teams were fairly even on possession, NYCFC took 24 shots to Miami’s eight and had six shots on goal to three for Miami.

It was not your typical venue for a soccer playoff game, and the weather was chillier than what they are used to, but a spirited collection of about 100 Inter Miami fans was still delighted to be at Citi Field Monday night to see the Men in Pink in the postseason.

As the No. 3 seed, NYCFC had home field advantage but their home field, Yankee Stadium, was being used for the MLB playoffs, so the game was moved to the Mets’ home in Queens.

Grass covered the infield dirt and the pitcher’s mound was flattened and decorated with an NYCFC logo.

Nico Abad didn’t care. The 26-year-old Davie resident is a member of “The Siege,’’ one of the supporter groups that make up “La Familia”, the club’s most ardent fans, and this was his 10th road game of the season. As soon as Miami clinched a playoff spot, he made plans to attend.

Abad and the other Miami supporters banged drums and waved big banners in Section 121. Although they were hugely outnumbered, they never stopped making noise. They cheered during Miami player introductions and had a shortlived celebration in the 23rd minute, when Higuain appeared to score off a Christopher McVey through ball, but the goal was waved offside.

“I finally have a local team, so want to watch them in every other stadium,” said Abad, a Colombian-American. “I’m calling it my 30 Before 30 – 30 stadiums before I turn 30. I knocked off 10 so far this year.

Kimani Brown, another Miami supporter, said watching soccer in a baseball stadium was “a bit different” but he wasn’t complaining.

“We are here to watch our team, regardless of where they play,” Brown said. “We come to support the pink and black.”

Playmaker Alejandro Pozuelo returned to the Miami lineup after missing two games with a groin injury. The Spaniard, who was traded from Toronto FC in July, was an impact player from the moment he joined the team. He scored two goals in a 3-2 win over NYCFC in August.

Inter Miami forward Leo Campana is still recovering from a hamstring injury and did not make the game day roster.

Meanwhile, back in Miami, the skyline was lit in pink and black in honor of the Inter Miami playoffs. Some included the team’s logo with intertwining Herons.

Inter Miami CF worked with the local community on “RosaNegra Nights”. Beginning on Sunday, six South Florida buildings were lit up ahead of the club’s playoff match on Monday night.

The buildings included: FTX Arena, Hard Rock Stadium, Bayside Market Place, Miami Freedom Tower, Paramount Building, and the New World Symphony.