Messi Magic Propels Miami to Playoff Advantage Over Nashville

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Inter Miami seized control of their Round One playoff series with a commanding 3-1 victory over Nashville SC at Chase Stadium on Friday night. Lionel Messi's brace bookended a dominant performance from the Eastern Conference's third seed, giving Javier Mascherano's squad a crucial 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series before a sellout crowd of 19,100 in South Florida.

The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time when Messi, already with a goal to his name, delivered the knockout blow in the sixth minute of added time. With Nashville pushing forward desperately seeking an equalizer after falling behind 2-0, Miami caught the visitors on a lightning-quick counterattack. The Argentine legend collected a clearance at midfield, exchanged passes with substitute Mateo Silvetti, and calmly slotted past a helpless Joe Willis to effectively end Nashville's resistance. The goal showcased Miami's lethal transition game that had troubled Nashville throughout the evening.

Tactically, Mascherano's side controlled the tempo from the opening whistle, deploying their possession-based approach to devastating effect. Miami's midfield triangle of Sergio Busquets, Rodrigo De Paul, and Patrick Yazbek consistently bypassed Nashville's first line of pressure, allowing the hosts to build attacks methodically. Nashville coach Ben Callaghan countered with a compact defensive block, attempting to spring counters through Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge, but found themselves pinned back for extended periods as Miami completed nearly 90% of their passes compared to Nashville's 83%.

The first half belonged to the hosts, who broke through in the 19th minute when Messi opened the scoring. The sequence began with Busquets intercepting a wayward Nashville pass in midfield before finding Jordi Alba on the left flank. The Spanish fullback's quick combination with Luis Suárez created space, and the Uruguayan veteran delivered a perfectly weighted through ball that Messi met with a first-time finish into the bottom corner. Miami continued to threaten, with Ian Fray's header forcing a spectacular save from Willis in the 34th minute, while Nashville struggled to establish any meaningful possession in Miami's defensive third.

The second half opened with increased intensity as both teams collected yellow cards in quick succession. Busquets was cautioned in the 54th minute for a tactical foul on Mukhtar, halting a promising Nashville counter. Just two minutes later, tensions flared when De Paul and Surridge were both booked after a confrontation following a contested aerial duel. The flashpoint seemed to energize Miami, who doubled their advantage in the 62nd minute through Tadeo Allende. The goal came from a sweeping move starting with Fray at right-back, who found Messi in a pocket of space. The captain's delicate chip over Nashville's defensive line allowed Allende to ghost in behind and volley past Willis from 12 yards.

Nashville's desperation grew as the match entered its final stages, with Callaghan making a flurry of substitutions to chase the game. The introduction of Alex Muyl for Jacob Shaffelburg in the 74th minute provided fresh energy, while Miami countered by bringing on Gregore Luján and Yannick Bright to shore up their defensive shape. The tactical chess match culminated in a frantic final ten minutes, with Nashville throwing numbers forward and Miami looking increasingly dangerous on the counter, ultimately leading to Messi's second goal in stoppage time.

Despite Miami's dominance reflected in their six shots on target to Nashville's three, the visitors refused to surrender. Their persistence was rewarded in the 11th minute of stoppage time when Mukhtar pulled one back with virtually the last kick of the match. The German playmaker capitalized on a rare defensive lapse, collecting a loose ball at the edge of the box before firing a low drive beyond Maximiliano Falcón. The goal came too late to affect the outcome but provided Nashville with a psychological boost heading into the second game.

Individually, Messi was the standout performer with his two goals and assist, but Busquets' controlling presence in midfield proved equally vital. The Spanish veteran completed 97% of his passes while making four crucial interceptions. For Nashville, Willis kept his team in the contest with four impressive saves, while Mukhtar's late goal capped a tireless individual display despite limited service throughout the match.

Miami takes a 1-0 series lead in this best-of-three Round One matchup. The series shifts to GEODIS Park in Nashville on October 31, where Nashville must win to force a decisive Game 3. Should a third game be necessary, the teams would return to Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Miami's commanding performance puts them in pole position to advance, while Nashville faces the daunting task of needing to win consecutive matches against a Miami side that has lost just twice at home all season.