Inter Miami snap seven-game MLS losing streak with 1-1 tie against Austin FC

Inter Miami made a small step in the right direction in MLS on Saturday night, drawing 1-1 with Austin to snap its seven-game losing streak. 

Josef Martinez scored less than two minutes into the second half but the goal didn’t hold up as host Inter Miami settled for a 1-1 tie with Austin. Nick Lima equalized about four minutes after Inter Miami got on the board.

Still, Inter Miami’s seven-game losing streak ended with the draw in what might have been the team’s last game under interim coach Javier Morales. 

It trimmed the gap on the playoff places to 10 points and with two games in hand and Lionel Messi on the way, things looked just a little bit better for Miami.

Tata Martino has been hired to take the head coaching position, and he was in attendance at Saturday night’s game as he awaits to complete paperwork to assume his duties.

But Miami need to string together some wins, and fast, in order to make the playoffs 

Inter Miami (5-13-1, 16 points), which is without an MLS victory since May 13, had a statistical advantage with an 18-12 edge in shots. Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender made three saves.

Goalkeeper Brad Stuver saved seven shots for Austin FC (7-8-5, 25 points), which was coming off a pair of victories when it scored three times in each of those matches.

Martinez registered his team-leading fifth goal of the season and his second tally in a three-game span. 

He was set up for a shot in the box by Benjamin Cremaschi’s cross from the right side. Two Austin FC players overpursued on the play and that left Martinez open for the shot.

For Lima’s goal, the defender collected the ball outside the box after teammate Sebastian Driussi’s shot from the top left of the box was blocked. That turned into the first goal in Lima’s 81-match tenure with Austin and eighth of his MLS career.

Inter Miami produced more chances in the first half, but didn’t connect on any of its nine shots. Four of those required saves by Stuver.

It was the first time in four matches that Inter Miami held an opponent to fewer than two goals.