Major League Soccer: Inter Miami defeats Nashville thanks to a brace from Lionel Messi

On Saturday night, April 20, Inter Miami defeated visiting Nashville SC 3-1 as Lionel Messi scored his sixth and seventh goals of the season and added his sixth assist in between.

Late in the second half, Messi sealed the victory with his second goal of the game from the penalty spot. Messi started the weekend one goal behind five players, including Miami teammate Luis Suarez, who were tied for the MLS lead with six goals.

Inter Miami (5-2-3, 18 points), who won back-to-back league games for the first time this season, also had a goal from Sergio Busquets.

Daniel Lovitz’s well placed corner kick helped Nashville (1-3-4, seven points) force an own goal early on, but it was unable to stave off a second straight loss.

At the half, Elliot Joseph Panicco, the goalkeeper for Nashville SC, was substituted for Joe Willis by manager Gary Smith after Panicco gave up two goals and occasionally exhibited poor back-passing.

In the 41st minute, Diego Gomez, a midfielder for Miami, was stretchered off the field due to an injury. Nashville defender Lukas MacNaughton left the game in the 51st with a personal problem.

After a first half that could have resulted in even more goals except for one goal-line clearance at either end and another effort by Messi hitting the post, Miami led 2-1.

Prior to all of that, Lovitz’s right-wing corner kick, which defender Franco Negri deflected into his own net off his thigh, gave Nashville the lead in the second minute.

After just nine minutes of lead time, Messi’s first goal tied the score for the Herons.

Messi was sent into the left side of the penalty box by Suarez’s deft first-touch pass, and the Argentinean player finished coolly and low to beat Panicco.

Miami then had a chance to score off a corner kick. With little time to react, Panicco was unable to stop Messi’s pass into the near post, where Busquets met it and headed the ball past him.

Leonardo Frugis Afonso was evidently fouled by Joshua Bauer, setting up Messi’s penalty kick in the 81st minute.