Apr 11, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Inter Miami CF defender Micael Dos Santos (16) battles Red Bull New York forward Julian Hall (16) during the first half at Miami Freedom Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Red Bull New York’s Julian Hall and Ethan Horvath had standout performances in a fantastic 2-2 draw against Inter Miami at the new Nu Stadium in Florida.
This time, however, the 18-year-old Hall tallied two assists — to set up Jorge Ruvulcaba’s opener within 15 minutes, and then to find a way to connect with fellow youngster Adri Mehmeti, who slammed the ball in from two yards out, to equalize in the 77th minute.
Rodrigo De Paul found Matteo Silvetti with a brilliant cross at the far post right before the break, with the latter coolly finishing past Horvath’s far post with his first touch. Germán Berterame managed to score his first goal for his new team in the 55th minute to put Miami ahead.
Mehmeti had poked the ball out of Lionel Messi’s touch, which neatly fell to the former Monterrey man to finish into the side netting of the far post.
The breakout star
For the opener, Hall out-muscled Micael and outpaced both him and his defensive partner, Maxi Falcón. After taking out both center backs with a cut back, he had the awareness to find an onrushing Ruvulcaba in acres of space.
It was the former PUMAS winger’s first goal for his new club, and he celebrated alongside Hall with an archer’s celebration. From one winger to another, it was Cade Cowell’s driven ball up the field to start Hall on the counter for the goal.
For the second, captain Emil Forsberg played a short free kick on the ground into the penalty box to the 18-year-old. Hall managed to deceive De Paul and turn towards the byline, sending a ball into the six-yard box for 17-year-old Mehmeti to poke home.
Before that, though, the Red Bulls thought they had found their equalizer through the unlikeliest sources in defender Robert Voloder.
Ronald Donkor, who had another standout match as the Red Bull’s all-action engine in the midfield, received a long pass, and suddenly it was a four versus three, with the German center back bursting a lung to get down the middle. The 21-year-old former Red Bull academy player outwrestled Yannick Bright and found Cowell on the right. The No. 7’s cross deflected past Dayne St. Clair and Hall, falling to Voloder to knock it home from six yards out.
After a minute of VAR checking if Cowell was offside, referee Rosendo Mendoza ruled the goal out and restored Miami’s lead.
Horvath settling in nicely
Horvath made five saves throughout the night, but most felt like they prevented a goal. His first came in the 22nd minute when he denied De Paul at point-blank range. The Argentine could not believe it and buried his face on the floor.
There were two easy catches Horvath made that were in no way spectacular towards the end of the first half, but they allowed Red Bull to compose themselves after spells of Inter Miami pressure.
Then there were the highlight reel-worthy ones. Javier Mascherano sent on Luis Suarez after Mehmeti had equalized, and Messi spun brilliantly to find his old teammate inside the box.
The Uruguayan forced a save at the near post, then De Paul, on the volley, forced Horvath to clamber back up and make a double save. It was almost all for naught as the ball fell to Berterame, who bundled it in at the far post.
However, Messi was ruled offside at the very start of the play and the saves.
It looked like a first win at Nu Stadium was written in the stars for Messi and Co. when Miami was awarded a free kick right outside the box four minutes into injury time. The World Cup-winner blasted the ball through a crowd of bodies, forcing a good save from Horvath to ensure both sides share the points.
The Red Bulls are in U.S. Open Cup action on Wednesday when they host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds for the first time at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
For more on Red Bull New York, visit AMNY.com