Inter Miami vs Nashville Highlights, MLS: MIA 3-1 NSH; Messi scores two, assists another in comfortable win for Miami

Another three points for Inter Miami courtesy of two goals and an assists from Lionel Messi. It extends its lead over NY Red Bulls and stays on top of the Eastern Conference standings for the time being. Messi’s goal tally for the season is up to seven, making him the second-highest scorer in the league.

Five minutes added on for stoppages.

It is the end of the night for Luis Suarez. Benjamin Cremaschi comes in for him.

MESSI! He sends the keeper the wrong way and places the ball into the right side of the goal. That’s his second goal of the night. That should be the three points for Inter Miami.

Afonso wins a penalty for Inter Miami. He is brought down by Bauer on the left edge of the box.

A change for Inter Miami.

IN - Yannik Bright | OUT - Julian Gressel

For Nashville: IN - Amar Sejdic | OUT - Dru Yearwood

A neat little one-two between Surridge and Mukhtar leads the latter in front of goal. He turns and shoots but does not get any real venom behind it. A comfortable save for Callender.

SAVED! Messi feeds a pin-point through ball to Afonso on the left side of the Nashville box. Afonso goes for it with his right foot, aiming for the bottom right corner. The keeper gets in position to cover the angle and stop it.

ALMOST! Mukhtar is well outside the penalty area but sees some space to shoot. He connects this with his laces and squeezes the ball between the body of defenders. Callender has no clue how the ball creeps past and stands still as the ball runs inches wide of the far post.

Nashville with a threatening counter attack. Surridge is running through the right channel and just chips the ball to the six-yard box. Shaffelburg is the target at the far post but the ball just goes a tad too long and beats the wing back.

Messi takes a corner from the left side but the delivery is poor and cleared well before the near post.

SAVED! Mukhtar takes a long-range shot when he sees Callender off his line. A finger tip nudge over the crossbar from the Miami keeper saves him the blushes.

MacNaughton is the latest player who needs to be stretchered off the field. Nashville will be making a change now.

Jack Maher comes in for the injured player.

Suarez is fouled but Messi gets the ball and keeps his run ahead going as the referee plays advantage. The Argentine is finally tackled in the Nashville box once he takes a heavy touch.

Nashville begins the second half with possession.

The players make their way to the field for the second half.

A goal and assist for Messi in the first half to help his side fight back after conceding early in the match. 

Messi feeds a ball to Suarez at the edge of the penalty area. The striker tries to go around the defender in front of him but has the ball off him.

Four minutes of injury time added on.

Miami substitution due to an injury. 

IN - Afonso | OUT- Gomez

Miami takes the lead! Busquets with the most cheeky headers at the front post off Messi’s corner kick. MIAMI 2, NASHVILLE 1.

Cleared off the line! Suarez gets in the way of a Panicco clearance. He has the ball and sees Gomez rushing in front of the empty goal. A chipped pass comes to Gomez’s right and he shoots, only to see the ball cleared.

SAVED again by Panicco. this time Messi whips a cross in from the right. It is at the far post where Suarez runs in and fires a header. Panicco does well to stick his legs together and save the shot.

Weigandt puts in a sliding tackle to thwart a Nashville counter building through the left flank after Miami failed to convert its set piece.

Negri crosses low from the left side and the pass is blocked for a Miami corner.

SAVED! Messi’s left-footed hammer of a shot is blocked by Panicco. The chance is set up by Suarez who gets behind a long ball and heads it into Messi’s path.

Callender is fouled on a corner for Nashville. He spills the ball as a result and the referee blows the whistle for a foul.

Suarez puts in a chipped ball into the box as he drops deep again to open space for Messi. It has a bit too much weight on it and falls beyond Messi, allowing Panicco to collect it off his line.

Shaffelberg puts a cross in from the left flank for Mukhtar. The striker is able to get to it before losing control and seeing it run over the line.

OFF THE POST! Messi nearly makes it 2-1! Gomez collects a loose ball and plays it the No. 10. Messi turns to his right to beat MacNaughton and shoots. The ball beats the keeper to his right but comes back off the post.

Gomez crosses from the right looking for Suarez but the keeper intercepts.

Miami levels! Who else but Lionel Messi to do the job for his team. Suarez drops deep to set up a one-touch pass to send Messi through. Messi drives ahead and shoots with his left but the shot is saved. As Suarez tries to collect the second ball and shoot it, it deflects off a Nashville defender and falls to Messi again. The keeper is not in position and Messi has a simple finish.

Busquets’ back pass to Callender is nearly intercepted by the Nashville striker. The nerves are evident in Miami players.

One way traffic in the opening phase. Nashville is way up into the Miami half, pressing and winning the ball high in the final third.

Off the post! Another set piece which Miami cannot clear out of danger. A second ball is sent into the box and the shot from Bauer hits the crossbar. 

Nashville draws first blood. It wins an early set piece. The corner is delivered from the right and Inter Miami defender Aviles cannot get out of the way in time. The ball takes his thigh and beats Callender to creep into the top left corner of goal.

Inter Miami kicks the ball into action for the first half.

Not too long left for the first kick of the match. Stay tuned! 

Inter Miami: W-L-D-L-D

Nashville : L-D-L-W-L

(in all competitions)

Played: 8 | Goals: 6 | Assists: 3

Played: 5 | Goals: 5 | Assists: 2

Played: 12 | Inter Miami: 3 | Nashville: 4 | Draws: 5

Inter Miami: Callender, Weigandt, Aviles, Freire, Negri, Gressel, Busquets, Ruiz, Messi, Suarez, Gomez.

Nashville: Panicco, Lovitz, MacNaughton, Bauer, Shaffelburg, Davis, Godoy, Yearwood, Muyl, Surridge, Mukhtar.

The Inter Miami vs Nashvill MLS match will kick off at 7:30 PM ET or 5:00 AM IST.

Inter Miami: Callender, Aviles, Freire, Gressel; Weigandt, Ruiz, Busquets, Alba; Messi, Suarez, Gomez.

Nashville SC: Panicco; Bauer, MacNaughton, Lovitz; Muyl, Godoy, Yearwood, Shaffelburg, Anunga; Surridge, Mukhtar.

The live stream for the Inter Miami vs Nashville match will be available on Apple TV in India with an MLS Season Pass. 

The match will not be telecast live in India.