Surging Crew have payback in mind vs. Inter Miami

Inter Miami will look to build momentum from their first point in eight matches when they host the surging Columbus Crew on Tuesday.

Columbus (10-6-4, 34 points) is unbeaten in six matches (5-0-1) following a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday that upped its home record to 8-1-2.

The lone defeat was courtesy of Miami (5-13-1, 16 points), a 2-1 winner in Columbus on April 29.

That was the second of three straight wins before Miami went on a seven-match losing streak that precipitated the firing of coach Phil Neville on June 1.

Miami ended the points skid with a 1-1 tie vs. Austin FC on Saturday, four days after Gerardo "Tata" Martino was named new coach in advance of Lionel Messi's MLS arrival. Martino and Messi will reunite after they were at Barcelona and with the Argentina national team.

Martino also will be paired again with striker Josef Martinez, after they both were with Atlanta United, who won the 2018 MLS Cup.

With Martino watching from a video booth Saturday while he awaits his work visa, Martinez had a goal vs. Austin to become the first player in MLS history to score against 27 different teams. He has five goals this season and 103 in his career to rank ninth all-time in MLS scoring.

Having Martino in attendance was not necessarily added motivation.

"We had history, but that was a long time ago," Martinez said. "I'm obviously happy with his arrival, but we are all focusing on turning the team around."

The Crew also have a star in Cucho Hernandez, who had a goal and an assist vs. the New York Red Bulls last week. He has contributed to goals in 10 of the past 11 matches (five goals, eight assists).

The Crew lead MLS with 40 goals scored.

"I love this team. I love playing for this team," Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte said. "We have players that are fun to watch and we're scoring goals the way we play. It's fun to be a part of."

-- Field Level Media