Messi, Suárez score goals to help Inter Miami storm back in 2-2 draw against Nashville
Safid DeenThere’s always enough time for Inter Miami when Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are on the pitch – even in the final minutes.
Messi scored a goal in the 52nd minute, while Suárez’s header in the fifth minute of extra time helped Inter Miami storm back to finish a 2-2 draw against Nashville SC during the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup match on Thursday night at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tenn.
Both teams have MLS games on Sunday, before the second leg of their Round-of-16-matchup Wednesday at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC Concacaf Champions Cup highlights
Messi’s goal was a sigh of relief for Inter Miami after Nashville’s Jacob Shaffelburg scored twice in the opening minutes of each half to give his side a 2-0 lead.
Messi's sidekicks from Barcelona also came through in clutch moments – none bigger than Suárez, who rose above the defense to use his head on a pass from Sergio Busquets.
Inter Miami fell behind 1-0 after four minutes, and 2-0 just two minutes after halftime. They were without Jordi Alba, another Barcelona star who orchestrated two of Messi’s goals this year but was out with an illness. They lost Leo Campana, Suárez’s backup, to a foot injury in Wednesday’s practice before the game. They traded away defender DeAndre Yedlin to FC Cincinnati earlier in the week. There were a lot of holes to fill, but Inter Miami's star power prevailed again.
Nashville's offside call spoils 3-1 lead
Before the equalizer from Suárez, Nashville’s Shaq Moore was ruled offside after VAR, negating a goal that would have given them a 3-1 lead in the 83rd minute.
Nashville coach Gary Smith considered both sequences as “defining moments” that could determine which side advances in the Champions Cup.
“We’ve been given for five occasions, and we scored two. And most times we’d say that’s enough, but not against Miami,” Smith said of Nashville’s opportunities in the match.
Lionel Messi suffers left leg injury, finishes Nashville match. Will he play vs. Montreal?
Messi finished the game despite injury – his legendary left leg was kicked by the calf area, causing his ankle to twist with about 10 minutes remaining in the match. Messi also got his right hamstring massaged during the first half.
It’s unclear whether Messi will play in Inter Miami’s next match at home against Montreal CF on Sunday. Nashville is also in action, hosting L.A. Galaxy on Sunday.
“Leo finished the game. He’s tired. He’s fatigued. That’s why he was getting massages. But he is fine,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said after the game.
Lionel Messi 'is the show'
Smith applauded Nashville’s intensity, which was also on full display when they fell to Inter Miami 1-1 (10-9 penalty kicks) during the Leagues Cup final last August.
“There’s a slightly different edge and feel when Lionel Messi is in town. He is the show and an exceptional individual,” Smith said. “It squeezes a little bit more [out of you], of course. It’s not always easy to get to those heights … in such a prestigious tournament. The guys left everything out there.”
What is aggregate in soccer?
The aggregate score in soccer is the combined number of goals scored by two teams in a series of games.
As far as the Concacaf Champions Cup is concerned, that aggregate score is over two games. Each team plays one home game in the two-leg knockout rounds.
In a situation where the two teams are tied on goals after the second leg, the team with the most away goals will advance via the away-goal tiebreaker. If the two teams are tied on goals as well as away goals, then the game will be decided in extra time and/or a penalty kick shootout.
Inter Miami might have tied Nashville SC on Thursday night, but heading back to their home stadium with two away goals gives them a slight edge.
Luis Suárez goal: Nashville 2, Inter Miami 2
Inter Miami’s comeback is complete: Luis Suárez scored in extra time in the final minutes, and Inter Miami will likely leave Nashville with a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Champions Cup match.
The second leg is Wednesday at Inter Miami.
It’s the third goal Suárez has scored in his last two matches.
Shaq Moore goal ruled offside: Nashville 2, Inter Miami 1
Nashville’s Shaq Moore delivered a goal in the 83rd minute, but VAR ruled the goal offsides.
Moore connected on a left-footed shot into the left side of the net, and Nashville nearly had a 3-1 lead in the final minutes.
Instead, the score remains 2-1.
Messi goes down with left leg injury, but stays in game: Nashville 2, Inter Miami 1
Messi’s leg was kicked in the lower leg area, causing his left ankle to roll after being kicked by Nashville’s Lukas MacNaughton, who was following through on a kick of the ball.
Messi stood on the sideline after being tended to by trainers, drinking a bottle of water before coming back into the match with about 10 minutes remaining.
Messi, Suárez faceoff against Nashville player: Nashville 2, Inter Miami 1
Tempers are flaring, and Lionel Messi is mixing it up.
Messi stepped in as Inter Miami’s Luis Suárez was bickering with Nashville’s Aníbal Godoy in the 67th minute.
Messi had some words with former MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar after the sequence dissolved.
Inter Miami threatens in 63rd minute: Nashville 2, Inter Miami 1
Diego Gómez was taken down just outside the penalty box and Inter Miami was awarded a free kick. Lionel Messi's free-kick attempt was booted out of bounds by Nashville for a corner kick, which did not find the head of a Miami player in the box.
Inter Miami goal negated after offside: Nashville 2, Inter Miami 1
Inter Miami’s Diego Gomez found the back of the net in the 57th minute, but was ruled offside.
The goal comes off the board for Inter Miami, who nearly tied the match early in the second half.
Lionel Messi goal highlight: Nashville 2, Inter Miami 1
Here comes Lionel Messi to the rescue. Messi scored in the 52nd minute to bring Inter Miami back into the match.
Messi’s shot snuck into the left side of the net, after an assist by Luis Suárez.
Jacob Shaffelburg scores second goal: Nashville 2, Inter Miami 0
Nashville’s Jacob Shaffelburg has scored in the opening minutes of both halves, this time in the 47th minute.
Messi gets hamstring massage on sidelines
Something to monitor: Lionel Messi received some treatment on the back of his right leg earlier in the match.
Messi misses free kick before halftime: Nashville 1, Inter Miami 0
Inter Miami faced a 1-0 deficit just four minutes into the match. And in the final minutes of the first half, they were unable to tie it.
Messi’s free kick collided into the wall of Nashville players, and Julian Gressel’s rebound was saved by the Nashville goalie.
Inter Miami missed opportunity: Nashville 1, Inter Miami 0
Messi and Suárez nearly had an opportunity in the penalty area in the 37th minute, but Messi was unable to get a shot off.
Federico Redondo yellow card: Nashville 1, Inter Miami 0
Inter Miami rookie Federico Redondo was given a yellow card in the 26th minute after his left elbow connected with Nashville’s Jacob Shaffelburg, who scored the first goal. It’s Redondo’s debut with Inter Miami after recently signing with the club.
Shortly after, Inter Miami’s Noah Allen and Nashville’s Shaq Moore – who assisted on the first goal – collided for a headbutt, leading to a brief stoppage in play.
Hany Mukhtar misses strike in 23’: Nashville 1, Inter Miami 0
Hany Mukhtar’s strike in the 23rd minute was saved by Inter Miami goalie Drake Callender, just outside the right side of the net. Mukhtar winded up with a shot after some traffic near midfield with Inter Miami trying to maintain possession.
A few updates since Messi’s miss: Nashville 1, Inter Miami 0
Inter Miami’s Luis Suárez missed a header close to the net after a Messi corner kick. Nashville’s Alex Muyl came flying in with a header, but was hit high and out of bounds. And Suárez missed another shot attempt from the left side. We’re now in the 20th minute.
Messi misses his shot: Nashville 1, Inter Miami 0
Lionel Messi’s first shot of the game didn’t have enough bend. Messi connected with a left boot just before the 13th minute, but was wide left.
Jacob Shaffelburg goal: Nashville 1, Inter Miami 0
Welp. Inter Miami is down in the opening minutes into tonight’s Champions Cup match. Nashville’s Jacob Shaffelburg scored in the fourth minute to take a 1-0 lead, thanks to an assist by Shaq Moore.
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC live stream?
The Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC match will kickoff at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT) at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee. The match is available in English on FS2 and in Spanish on TUDN.
WATCH: Messi and Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Fubo
TICKETS: See Messi and Inter Miami in person vs. Nashville SC
Leo Campana has foot injury, out for Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC
Inter Miami will be without Jordi Alba (illness) and Leo Campana, who has come off the bench to relieve Luis Suárez during the last two matches. Campana suffered a foot injury in Wednesday's practice, a team spokesman told USA TODAY Sports, and was omitted from Inter Miami’s lineup.
Add the fact right-wing defender DeAndre Yedlin was traded to Cincinnati, and Inter Miami’s depth will be tested.
Some good news: 21-year-old Argentine midfielder Federico Redondo will make his Inter Miami debut alongside Sergio Busquets. And veterans Noah Allen and Julian Gressel will fill in for Alba and Yedlin defensively.
Messi, Inter Miami arrive for Concacaf Champions Cup match vs. Nashville SC
Check out these photos and video from Inter Miami's arrival before their match against Nashville SC at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tenn.
Check out Inter Miami jerseys for Concacaf Champions Cup match vs. Nashville SC
Inter Miami will wear their pink jersey kit for tonight's game, which feature the CONCACAF Champions Cup logo on the sleeve.
SHOP: Get the latest Messi and Inter Miami gear from the MLS Store
Will Messi play in Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC game?
Lionel Messi is in Inter Miami's starting lineup for tonight's Concacaf Champions Cup match against Nashville SC. He even posted about it on Instagram earlier Thursday.
Here are the starting lineups for Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC:
Inter Miami's Jordi Alba won't play against Nashville
Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba has been dealing with an illness this week. And he will not play against Nashville SC.
Inter Miami coach Tata Martino was coy when asked whether Alba even made the trip to Nashville: "They'll have to ring his doorbell at home to see if he’s here.
Nashville MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar will play vs. Inter Miami
Nashville's Hany Mukhtar, the 2022 MLS MVP is in the starting lineup for tonight's match, despite a recent hamstring injury.
“He's back in the group and working, and there certainly be a thought about where and how he might be used [Thursday],” Nashville coach Gary Smith said of Mukhtar, who got hurt Feb. 22 during the first leg of their Champions Cup matchup against Dominican team Moca FC.
Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC predictions
Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter: Inter Miami 3, Nashville SC 0
Nashville will play Inter Miami close early, but Messi and Inter Miami are well-rested and coming off a heater against Orlando City last week. Messi scores once, and has an assist to Luis Suarez, while one other Inter Miami player, let’s say Julian Gressel, finds the back of the net in a 3-0 win.
Jacob Shames, Nashville SC beat writer for The Tennessean: Inter Miami 2, Nashville SC 0
Even if Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge don't play, Nashville's defensive structure still will frustrate Messi and Suarez, but Inter Miami's superior talent will overwhelm when it's all said and done. But if Nashville is at or close to full strength, can it generate offense to match? In that regard, there's little to go off of.
How did Inter Miami and Nashville SC get here in Concacaf Champions Cup?
Inter Miami’s win in the Leagues Cup qualified them for a berth into the Round of 16 in the Champions Cup tournament.
Nashville SC outlasted Dominican team Moca FC 7-0 on aggregate to advance.
What is the Concacaf Champions Cup?
Compared to other soccer tournaments, it’s like the CONMEBOL Libertadores and the UEFA Champions League.
The winner qualifies for the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025.
What happened when Messi last visited Nashville?
Messi and Inter Miami hoisted the League Cup trophy after beating Nashville 1-1 (10-9 in penalty kicks) on Aug. 19, 2023. It was Messi’s seventh match with Inter Miami last summer, and the win marked Inter Miami’s first championship in its four-year franchise history.
Messi scored in the 23rd minute. Nashville’s Fafá Picault scored in the 57th minute. And both sides were inches away from winning it in the final minutes of regulation before needing 22 total penalty kicks to decide it.
Both teams last met on Aug. 30, playing to a scoreless draw.
When is Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC second leg?
Inter Miami and Nashville each have a regular-season match Sunday before the second leg of their Champions Cup matchup.
Nashville hosts the L.A. Galaxy at 3 p.m. ET, while Inter Miami will host CF Montreal at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.
The second leg of their matchup will be at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium on March 13 at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Concacaf Champions Cup: Recent winners
- 2023: Club León
- 2022: Seattle Sounders FC
- 2021: CF Monterrey
- 2020: Tigres UANL
- 2019: CF Monterrey
Competition was known as the Concacaf Champions League from 2008-2023.
Will Lionel Messi play in the Paris Olympics?
Could Lionel Messi’s jampacked schedule include a trip to Paris for the 2024 Olympics?
Argentina coach Javier Mascherano is hopeful, but he knows Messi, 36, has plenty to consider.
Mascherano, who coaches Argentina’s under-23 team, said he had conversations with Messi about being one of three possible overage players to join Argentina’s Olympic roster.
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