Cushing relishing challenge of facing league leaders Miami on home soil

Nick Cushing is "excited" for New York City FC to welcome Lionel Messi and Inter Miami to Yankee Stadium and is looking forward to the challenge. 

NYCFC are currently on an eight-match winless streak in MLS, with their last win in the competition coming back on July 4 against CF Montreal on home soil.

They were on the end of a heavy 5-1 thrashing at home in their last outing to Philadelphia Union.

Cushing's side have slipped to sixth in the Eastern Conference but are only three points behind Orlando City in fourth, and the head coach knows that a big performance against Miami would be the boost they need.

"The team is very excited for the game. Obviously, knowing that there's going to be a capacity crowd is something that is really unique," Cushing told GOAL.

"It's a one-off occasion, in the sense of knowing that the atmosphere is going to be amazing. It is going to be a difficult game, but the team is really motivated for the challenge.

"I think for the team as a whole, to put ourselves against the best team in the league, against players of this calibre, and it's a huge opportunity to show the progression we've made as a team."

Meanwhile, Miami hold an eight-point lead at the top of the table but saw their five-match winning streak ended by a 2-2 draw with Atlanta United last time out.

Messi, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba started on the bench, while Sergio Busquets was suspended, as the young players were given a chance to shine.

The former three were brought on but could not help Miami snatch a win, and assistant coach Javi Morales was impressed by how the rotated side handled the game.

"It was a tough game, a tough stadium. We had a good performance, came away with a point," Morales said.

"It's not easy after not playing a lot to be thrown on the field from one day to the next and in that stadium. I think the young players did a good job."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

NYCFC – Alonso Martinez

Nine of Alonso Martinez's 12 goals this regular season have been scored at home, including netting New York City FC's lone goal on Wednesday.

The only two NYCFC players to score 10 home goals in a single MLS campaign are David Villa (three times) and Valentin Castellanos (twice).

Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

Messi has played eight times for club and country in the New York City area, totaling seven goals in those appearances, but all those matches were played in northern New Jersey. The Argentine has never appeared in a match in New York state.

Leonardo Campana's strike in midweek was his 30th for Miami, making him the club's all-time leading scorer – Messi is just three goals off equaling that record.

MATCH PREDICTION: INTER MIAMI WIN

New York have lost only one of their 10 all-time meetings with Miami (W7 D2), though each of the last two meetings have ended in draws. NYCFC have won all four of their home matches against Miami, keeping clean sheets in all four wins.

However, New York have recorded one win in their last 12 matches in all competitions (D7 L3), with that lone victory coming over Tigres of Liga MX. NYCFC have not defeated an MLS opponent since a 2-0 win over CF Montreal on July 3.

Meanwhile, Miami have collected 63 points through 29 matches this season, equaling the third-most points at this stage of a season in MLS history. The only team to collect 66 points through 30 matches of a season was New England in their points record-setting 2021 campaign.

And though they do not have the best record against NYCFC, their recent form speaks for itself as they are unbeaten in their last six MLS outings.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

NYCFC – 31.3%

Draw – 25.2%

Inter Miami – 43.5%