Even in the dying moments of the game, Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez prove their worth on the pitch for Inter Miami.
In the 52nd minute, Messi showcased his brilliance by finding the back of the net, giving Inter Miami hope. Then, in a dramatic turn of events, Suárez rose to the occasion with a crucial header deep into extra time, salvaging a 2-2 draw against Nashville SC in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup encounter on Thursday night at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
With both teams facing MLS matches on Sunday, the pressure was on. However, the focus swiftly shifted to the looming second leg of their Round-of-16 matchup scheduled for Wednesday at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Messi and Suárez Lead Charge Against Nashville’s Early Lead
Messi’s goal served as a crucial lifeline for Inter Miami, coming after Nashville’s Jacob Shaffelburg stunned with two early goals, one at the beginning of each half, granting his team a 2-0 advantage. In the face of adversity, Messi’s former teammates from Barcelona stepped up when it mattered most, none more so than Suárez, whose aerial prowess proved decisive as he connected with a pinpoint pass from Sergio Busquets.
Inter Miami found themselves trailing 1-0 just four minutes into the match, and their deficit doubled just two minutes into the second half. Their lineup was also depleted, with the absence of Jordi Alba due to illness, a key figure in Messi’s recent successes. Additionally, they suffered the loss of Leo Campana, Suárez’s understudy, to a foot injury sustained in Wednesday’s practice prior to the game.
Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC highlights.
Despite these setbacks, they faced further challenges with the departure of defender DeAndre Yedlin to FC Cincinnati earlier in the week. Yet, even with these obstacles, the star power of Inter Miami shone through once again, demonstrating resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
Before Suárez’s equalizer, Nashville’s Shaq Moore had thought he’d extended their lead to 3-1 in the 83rd minute, only for VAR to intervene and rule him offside, nullifying the goal.
Nashville coach Gary Smith regarded both instances as pivotal in determining the fate of the teams in the Champions Cup.
“We’ve had five chances and managed to convert two. In most cases, that would suffice, but not against Miami,” Smith commented on Nashville’s missed opportunities during the match.
Assessing Messi’s Injuries and Inter Miami’s Strategy
