Higuain scores as Inter Miami snap skid vs. New York Red Bulls

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:13 am

Gonzalo Higuain scored the go-ahead goal off a free kick in the 81st minute to lift expansion Inter Miami CF to a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday in Harrison N.J.

Matias Pellegrini scored his first career MLS goal in the 55th minute for Inter Miami CF (4-10-2, 14 points), who snapped a three-match losing skid and avenged a 4-1 setback to New York on Sept. 23.

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John McCarthy made three saves in his first start after captain Luis Robles fractured his arm late in Saturday's 3-2 setback to New York City FC.

Omir Fernandez scored in the 53rd minute and David Jensen finished with two saves for the Red Bulls (6-8-2, 20 points), who have followed a modest two-match winning streak by losing each of their last two contests.

The match was the first for New York since it named Gerhard Struber as its head coach on Tuesday. Struber has served as a head coach at FC Liefering, Barnsley FC and Wolfsberger FC.

A foul by Red Bulls defender Jason Pendant set the stage for Higuain, who sent a right-footed shot around the makeshift wall that caromed off the right post and into the net. The goal was the first in three MLS matches for the former Real Madrid and Juventus striker.

New York opened the scoring in the 53rd minute after a turnover by Inter Miami's Ben Sweat resulted in Jared Stroud finding Fernandez at the back post for an easy conversion. The goal was Fernandez's second goal of the season and fourth of his career.

Inter Miami tied the contest two minutes later after an unmarked Pellegrini sent Lewis Morgan's cross into the top right corner of the net.

The Red Bulls nearly opened the scoring in the 18th minute as Tom Barlow's header on goal was knocked off the line by a clearance from a sliding Blaise Matuidi.