Inter Miami defeated Nashville SC by a score of 2-1 on Saturday evening, with Lionel Messi contributing both goals for the visiting team. The Argentine forward achieved his fifth consecutive match with multiple goals, establishing a new Major League Soccer record. Miami secured its fifth consecutive victory and climbed to fifth position in the Supporter's Shield rankings. The defeat ended Nashville's impressive 15-game unbeaten run across all competitions. Miami holds an 11-3-5 record this season while pursuing back-to-back championship titles.
Messi opened the scoring during the 17th minute with a precisely executed free kick that curved through Nashville's defensive wall. The 38-year-old striker has accumulated 55 goals across 66 appearances for Inter Miami since joining the club. Nashville equalized early in the second half when Hany Mukhtar converted Andy Najar's cross with a well-placed header past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari. The match remained tied until the 62nd minute when Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis committed a costly error. Willis inadvertently passed the ball directly to Messi, who capitalized on the mistake to restore Miami's advantage.
The victory maintains Messi's remarkable scoring pace of 16 goals through 16 league matches this campaign. Sam Surridge of Nashville shares the league lead with 16 goals but required 21 matches to reach that total. Nashville entered the contest with a 12-5-5 record and had won five straight games before Saturday's setback. The unbeaten streak represented the longest active run in MLS and marked the most successful period in Nashville's six-year franchise history.
Messi opened the scoring during the 17th minute with a precisely executed free kick that curved through Nashville's defensive wall. The 38-year-old striker has accumulated 55 goals across 66 appearances for Inter Miami since joining the club. Nashville equalized early in the second half when Hany Mukhtar converted Andy Najar's cross with a well-placed header past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari. The match remained tied until the 62nd minute when Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis committed a costly error. Willis inadvertently passed the ball directly to Messi, who capitalized on the mistake to restore Miami's advantage.
The victory maintains Messi's remarkable scoring pace of 16 goals through 16 league matches this campaign. Sam Surridge of Nashville shares the league lead with 16 goals but required 21 matches to reach that total. Nashville entered the contest with a 12-5-5 record and had won five straight games before Saturday's setback. The unbeaten streak represented the longest active run in MLS and marked the most successful period in Nashville's six-year franchise history.
