- Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez came through for Miami in an exciting match
- The Herons now have an away goals lead over Nashville
- Is Trent Alexander-Arnold playing mind games with Man City’s trophy graves? It all starts podcast
Lionel Messi scored a stunning second-half goal and Luis Suarez struck in second-half stoppage time to earn a thrilling 2-2 draw for Inter Miami in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup vs. Nashville SC.
It was only seven months ago that Miami defeated Nashville on penalties in the Leagues Cup final, and it had all the elements of a tournament classic: tensions boiling over, a razor-sharp VAR decision and finally the best players showing up in the final. clutch.
It looked like it would be a frustrating night for Messi despite his goal, as he survived a late injury, complained to the referee and fiercely confronted opponent Anibal Godoy in the second half.
Nevertheless, his teammate and close friend Suarez headed in the 96th minute equalizer, delivered by Sergio Busquets, and Miami now go into the second leg with a crucial away goals advantage.
Nashville waited less than four minutes to take control of the match, with Jacob Shaffelburg hitting a left-footed shot high into the net over goalkeeper Drake Callender.
Luis Suarez and his Inter Miami teammates celebrate after he scored a late equalizer
Earlier in the second half, Lionel Messi drove away in celebration when he scored
Still, it was an exciting evening at times, as Messi later exchanged words with Anibal Godoy
Although Shaffelburg completed the play, it was American defender Shaq Moore who was at the center of it. He drove in after receiving the ball on the right, before picking it back up and feeding his teammate to score.
Nashville also soon had a shot saved off the line, although the play was ultimately ruled out for offside.
It wasn’t a great half for Miami, but Messi certainly made his presence felt as he came close to scoring twice.
At the first opportunity he fired wide from around 12 yards inside the 13th minute after being supplied by teenager Noah Allen.
And it wasn’t the first time the pair had made contact on the break, as a clever ball from the left-back found Messi some 20 minutes later after a Luis Suarez dummy.
Messi was able to pass Nashville’s Daniel Lovitz but shot straight at goalkeeper Joe Willis – and after a decent effort from Julian Gressel before half-time, Nashville made the visitors pay for their lack of sharpness.
Shaffelburg started the second period just as he did the first. He cut inside from the left before firing a shot into the top corner for a 2-0 lead.
That advantage would not last long, but Messi finally got the better of Willis in the 57th minute, curling the ball into the goal from the top of the penalty area after being fed by Suarez.
Nashville appeared to have put the game to bed when Moore scored in the 83rd minute, but the goal was ruled offside.
Suarez then used a familiar connection with Sergio Busquets in the 96th minute to head home to give Miami an away goals lead heading back to South Florida.