Inter Miami surpasses Nashville after Lionel Messi scores twice
Lionel Messi scored two goals and provided two assists as Inter Miami defeated visiting Nashville, South Carolina, 4-0 in Game 3 of their first-round series on Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, advancing in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in the club’s history.
With five goals and three assists at the end of the best-of-three series, Messi contributed to all eight of Miami’s goals. He has scored the most goals of any MLS opponent—15—against sixth-seeded Nashville in all competitions.
No. 2 seed FC Cincinnati, who will visit Inter Miami in a one-game Eastern Conference semifinal in two weeks, is the team against which Messi has never scored.
Miami triumphed despite missing striker Luis Suarez, who was suspended for one game for his kickout against Nashville SC’s Andy Najar in Game 2. Tadeo Allende scored twice after halftime and provided an assist.
Nashville made a comeback to the playoffs in the first full season under B.J. Callaghan after missing the 2024 tournament, but they were eliminated in the first round in their third consecutive postseason participation.
In the tenth minute, Messi gave Miami the lead on their first clear opportunity.
Due to pressure from Ian Fray, Matthew Corcoran of Nashville made a poor backward ball that Allende deflected to Messi’s feet, giving him time and room to charge forward.
The rest was done by Messi, who dribbled at center back Jack Maher, who was retreating, and then fired a low shot from around 20 yards out between the right post and goalkeeper Joe Willis.
Messi’s second goal came in the 39th minute after Walker Zimmerman made a defensive blunder and failed to clear Jordi Alba’s long, speculative ball down the left flank.
It fell to Mateo Silvetti instead, who saw Messi sprinting into space and gave him the square pass in stride for a far easier second goal.
Just seconds into the second half, Nashville appeared to have equalized, but Sam Surridge, the team’s apparent goal scorer, was called for a foul on Maxi Falcon.
Ultimately, though, Miami added insurance again in the 73rd and 76th minutes through Allende.
Allende finished low through traffic on the first after Messi and Alba joined forces on the left side of the area. On the second, Allende chipped past Willis while on the run after Messi sent an early throughball.
