Tennessee’s Nashville (AP) — Thursday night in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, Inter Miami tied Nashville 2-2 thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez in stoppage time and after halftime, respectively.
The teams will play each other on Wednesday night in Florida in the round of 16 second leg of their home-and-home, total-goals series.
Toronto Star narrates In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Suárez scored the equalizer with a header off a cross from Sergio Busquets, his former Barcelona teammate. In the 52nd minute, Messi scored his first CONCACAF goal to put Inter Miami ahead.
“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.”
In front of 30,109 spectators, Jacob Shaffelburg gave Nashville the lead in the fourth minute and again in the 47th minute following the break. Shaq Moore’s goal in the 83rd minute gave Nashville the impression that it was up 3-1, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Smith expressed his dissatisfaction with the officiating, stating that he had missed Moore’s goal. Smith stated that he believed the ruling on the field should stand unless there was a clear and obvious error as per the rules.
With all eyes on Messi.
Tickets appeared ready to skyrocket as soon as the game was announced last week, much like Messi’s first trip to Nashville during the League Cup final in August of last year.
Though pink Messi jerseys were scattered throughout GEODIS Park on Thursday, tickets were still available. Additionally, supporters repeatedly chanted the name of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Messi And Nashville
“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.”
The last time these teams played here, Messi scored in regulation and made the first of two penalty kick conversions. Thursday night he had to exercise a little more patience.
In the thirteenth minute, he attempted to bend the ball from the middle of the box just inside the left edge of the goal, but his left-footed kick went just wide left. Messi seemed to wonder why he wasn’t on the scoresheet. In the 37th minute, Messi attempted a right-footed shot from the box, but Nashville goalie Joe Willis stopped it.
Just before halftime in stoppage time, Messi was given a chance by a foul, but his free kick struck Nashville’s wall. As the half was coming to an end, Julian Gressel attempted to chase down the ball and got his right foot on it, only to see Willis block the shot.
In the fourth minute, Shaffelburg gave Nashville a 1-0 lead after scoring past Drake Callender on a pass from Moore. He tucked the ball under the crossbar and then fell to his knees in celebration of the early lead. Shaffelburg took a 2-0 lead after scoring from the left side after a pass from Sean Davis.
Nashville’s Defeat
Just outside the box, Suárez connected with Messi, his former Barcelona teammate. In the 52nd minute, Messi pulled Miami ahead 2-1 by squeezing the ball between Willis’s outstretched right fingers and inside the left post with his left foot.
Late in regulation, Messi was slightly alarmed when Nashville defender Lukas Macnaughton trod on his left calf. Messi stayed on the field as a trainer gave him an update.
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Prior to the game, Nashville revealed that German midfielder Hany Mukhtar, the 2022 MLS MVP and Golden Boot winner, would be staying with the team through 2026 thanks to a contract extension. The two-time All-Star, who leads the team in goals, assists, and points all-time, has a 2027 option with Nashville.
In the twenty-third minute, Callendar produced a nice stop on a shot at the post by Mukhtar. Mukhtar had missed the opportunity to watch the replay of Moore’s goal that was disallowed for 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.”
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