Valentin Castellanos' brace helps NYCFC down Inter Miami

Valentin Castellanos had two goals and an assist to help New York City FC record a 3-1 win against host Inter Miami CF on Saturday.

New York City FC (14-11-8, 50 points) has won three in a row and it two points behind second-place Nashville SC in the Eastern Conference.

Miami (11-17-5, 38 points) lost its second straight and was officially eliminated from playoff contention.

NYCFC moved ahead in the 33rd minute.

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Miami's clearing attempt was blocked at midfield by Keaton Parks, who fed it to Castellanos for a strike from outside the box that went far corner to give New York a 1-0 lead.

Miami had a chance to tie the score in the 53rd minute off a shot by Federico Higuain inside the box but goalkeeper Sean Johnson got a piece of it to deflect it off the crossbar.

Three minutes later, Miami defender Nicolas Figal brought the home side level when he got his foot on the ball at the goalmouth after a corner kick.

Castellanos struck again in the 60th minute to make it 2-1, capitalizing from just above the penalty spot after Miami slowed down thinking the play was offside.

Talles Magno pushed it to 3-1 in the 83rd minute, finishing off a feed from Castellanos from the top of the box.

Both sides kept it tight through the first half, with neither able to generate much on the attack.

Santiago Rodriguez had the first opportunity for New York City at the goal area in the 10th minute, off a cross from defender Malte Amundsen but his kick went left of the net.

In the 17th minute, striker Gonzalo Higuain was denied from the box by a diving effort from Johnson, who stretched to get his hand on the ball.

Miami goalkeeper Nick Marsman left the match in the 30th minute after trying to play through an injury on a collision with teammate Brek Shea in the 25th minute. He was replaced by John McCarthy, who made his first appearance since July 3.

The visitors capitalized just a few minutes later.