Inter Miami CF secured a convincing 4-0 triumph over Nashville SC on Saturday, thanks to two first-half goals from superstar midfielder Lionel Messi and two additional tallies from Tadeo Allende in the second half. This win marked the franchise’s first advancement to the Eastern Conference semifinals in their history, following a best-of-three series victory.
Nashville made an early tactical error, allowing Messi space to maneuver. He capitalized immediately, darting past three defenders and striking from just outside the penalty area in the 10th minute.
Though Nashville’s defense, led by goalie Joe Willis, managed to hold Miami to just one goal for a time with solid performances in the box, the tide turned in the 39th minute when Messi scored again. He was set up by Jordi Alba’s long pass to Matteo Silvetti, who delivered a clever backheel that found Messi.
Nashville continued to fight back. Early in the second half, Sam Surridge appeared to have reduced the deficit but had his goal disallowed due to a foul for dragging down Maximilian Falcon’s leg. Despite several attempts from Surridge, Nashville could not breach Miami’s defense.
Inter Miami then took control of the match, with Allende netting two goals within four minutes. His first came in the 73rd minute from an assist by Alba, while the second in the 76th minute was a chipped shot over Willis after a lengthy run.
Messi assisted both of Allende’s goals and was named Player of the Match. Notably, Inter Miami played without forward Luis Suarez, who was suspended for a match after an incident involving Nashville defender Andy Najar in Game 2.
Miami will next face FC Cincinnati, who bested Columbus 2-1 in their Game 3 matchup, with this next contest taking place in Cincinnati due to Miami’s lower seed. This marks the furthest Miami has progressed in the MLS playoffs since the team’s inception in 2020, especially notable after their first-round exit last season despite winning the league and the MLS Supporters’ Shield.
Fan Take: This victory is significant for soccer fans as it demonstrates Inter Miami’s potential to compete at higher levels after a rough start in the league. Messi’s involvement not only elevates the team’s performance but also captures the imagination of fans worldwide, potentially boosting interest in MLS as a whole.
