Late Nashville Equalizer
Inter Miami Misses Shield Opportunity After Stalling Against Nashville and Chicago
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Key Points
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Messi’s goal against Nashville was his 99th in all competitions for Inter Miami and his 19th league goal of the season, putting him atop the MLS Golden Boot standings. He has also scored 17 goals in 14 matches against Nashville in all competitions since joining Miami in 2023.
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The draw with Nashville extended a difficult run for Inter Miami, which has recorded just one win in its last nine matches across all competitions.
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Messi’s missed opportunities against Nashville included a shot that hit the underside of the crossbar, another that struck the post and a late effort cleared by defender Jeisson Palacios before Surridge’s equalizer.
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Miami’s 1-1 draw with Chicago came after Nashville had lost to Toronto FC earlier the same day, meaning Inter Miami failed to take full advantage of the leaders’ dropped points.
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Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady made several important saves against Messi, while Casemiro’s equalizer was his third goal in three consecutive matches. Messi’s assist on the goal also took him to 11 MLS assists for the season, according to the report.
Inter Miami's bid to catch Nashville SC in the MLS Eastern Conference race hit another roadblock with a 2-2 draw against the league leaders. WTOP Lionel Messi scored his MLS-leading 19th goal of the season, but Sam Surridge's stoppage-time equalizer kept Nashville nine points clear atop the standings. The result extended Miami's struggles, with just one win in their last nine matches across all competitions.
Earlier this week, Miami also drew 1-1 with Chicago Fire after Casemiro headed in Messi's corner to equalize Robert Lewandowski's opening goal. CBS News The pair of draws means Inter Miami failed to capitalize when Nashville dropped points to Toronto FC on the same day, a missed opportunity that could prove costly in the tight title race.
Messi's 19th Goal Earns Point But Not Victory
Messi netted a spectacular strike to reach 99 career goals for Inter Miami in all competitions. WTOP The Argentina star has now scored 19 MLS goals this season, tops in the league's Golden Boot race. Against Nashville, Messi also created chances that went begging—one shot hit the underside of the crossbar, another struck the post, and a late attempt was cleared by defender Jeisson Palacios before Surridge finished the rebound.
Messi's dominance extended to his assist column. He delivered the corner for Casemiro's equalizer against Chicago, bringing him to 11 MLS assists for the season. CBS News Since joining Miami in summer 2023, Messi has scored 17 goals in 14 matches against Nashville across all competitions, yet he still hasn't secured a win over them this season.
Defensive Lapses Continue to Cost Inter Miami
Inter Miami's inability to protect leads once again undermined their push for silverware. Against Nashville, the team conceded late to squander a winning position. WTOP Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady kept Miami at bay with several key saves during their midweek draw, frustrating the visitors' attack despite Messi's constant pressure.
The defensive wobbles have become a pattern. News Channel 5 Inter Miami's loss of focus in crucial moments—particularly in the final minutes—has turned two winnable matches into dropped points. With Nashville maintaining a nine-point gap, Miami cannot afford many more defensive lapses if they hope to overtake the conference leaders.
One Chance Remains in Head-to-Head Showdown
Inter Miami and Nashville have one more match scheduled against each other this season. WTOP That fixture offers Miami's best realistic path to claw back ground in the Supporters' Shield race. With nine points separating the teams, a win in their final meeting would cut Nashville's lead significantly.
Until then, Miami must break their recent slump. One win in nine matches is a troubling run for a team with Messi, Lewandowski, and Casemiro on the roster. CBS News The squad showed flashes of brilliance—Casemiro now has three goals in three consecutive matches—but consistency has vanished when it matters most in the playoff push.
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