The teams will meet Wednesday night in Florida in the second
leg of the home-and-home, total-goals series in the round of 16.
Suárez tied it up scoring in the fifth minute of stoppage
time with a header off a cross from former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets.
Messi got Inter Miami on the board with his first CONCACAF goal in the 52nd
minute.
“It’s a completely different level of intelligence from the
likes of Lionel Messi and Busquets and Suárez,” Nashville coach Gary Smith said
of facing Inter Miami with the talent the team has added. “Completely different
level. And for the most part, I thought the guys did a wonderful job.”
Jacob Shaffelburg scored in the fourth minute, then again in
the 47th minute after halftime to put Nashville up 2-0 before a crowd of
30,109. Nashville thought it had a 3-1 lead when Shaq Moore scored in the 83rd
minute, only to have the goal waived off for being offside.
Smith wasn’t happy with the officiating, making clear he
hadn’t seen Moore’s goal. Smith said he thought the rules required clear and
obvious error or the decision on the field should stand.
All eyes were on Messi.
Once the match was set last week, ticket prices seemed ready
to soar, similar to Messi’s first visit to Nashville last August in the Leagues
Cup final. Tickets remained available Thursday, though pink Messi jerseys
dotted GEODIS Park. Fans also chanted the name of the eight-time Ballon d’Or
winner repeatedly.
“There’s a slightly different edge and feel to the
atmosphere when Messi’s in town,” Smith said. “You know, he’s the show and an
exceptional individual.”
Messi scored in regulation and converted the first shot in
penalty kicks the last time these teams played here. He had to be a bit more
patient Thursday night.
He missed in the 13th minute trying to bend the ball just
inside the left edge of the goal from the middle of the box with his
left-footed kick going just wide left. Messi appeared to ask himself how he
didn’t score. Nashville keeper Joe Willis stopped Messi’s shot off his right
foot in the 37th minute from the box.
A foul gave Messi a chance just before halftime in stoppage
time, but his free kick went into Nashville’s wall. Julian Gressel tried to
chase down the ball and got his right foot on the ball, only to see Willis
smother the shot as the half expired.
Shaffelburg put Nashville up 1-0 in the fourth minute,
scoring over Drake Callender off a pass from Moore, tucking the ball under the
crossbar before going to his knees celebrating the early lead. Shaffelburg
scored from the left side off a pass from Sean Davis for a 2-0 lead.
That didn’t last long as Messi finally did what everyone
expected to happen at some point.
Suárez found his former Barcelona teammate Messi just
outside the box. Messi used his left foot to squeeze the ball between Willis’
outstretched right fingers and inside the left post in the 52nd minute to pull
Miami to 2-1.
Messi had a bit of a scare late in regulation when Nashville
defender Lukas Macnaughton stepped on his left calf. A trainer checked on
Messi, who remained on the pitch.
Before the match, Nashville announced a contract extension
with German midfielder Hany Mukhtar to keep the 2022 MLS MVP and Golden Boot
winner with the club through 2026. Nashville also has an option for 2027 for
the two-time All-Star who is the club’s all-time leader in goals, assists and
points.
Callendar made a nice stop on a Mukhtar shot at the post in
the 23rd minute. Mukhtar hadn’t had a chance to see the replay of Moore’s goal
taken away for being offside.
“I heard it’s very, very tight,” Mukhtar said. “Not not
ideal for us, but it’s just halftime. So we’re going there next week and start
from 0-0.” -AP
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