Messi Shines Again as Inter Miami Defeats Nashville SC
Lionel Messi showcased his extraordinary talent once more, scoring two goals as Inter Miami defeated Nashville SC 2-1 on Saturday night, effectively ending Nashville's impressive 15-match unbeaten run.
With this victory, Miami improved its record to 11 wins, 3 losses, and 5 draws, marking their fifth consecutive win and propelling them to fifth place in the Supporter's Shield standings. The team is now focused on clinching the title for the second consecutive season.
Entering the match, Messi had already made history as the only player in Major League Soccer to achieve four straight multi-goal games. He had previously netted two goals in a recent match against the New England Revolution.
In the 17th minute, Messi opened the scoring with a stunning free kick. After Nashville equalized early in the second half, he quickly restored Miami's lead with a goal in the 62nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive error.
Messi's tally now stands at 16 goals in just 16 MLS matches this season, tying him with Nashville's Sam Surridge for the league's top scorer.
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano expressed his admiration for Messi's performance, stating through an interpreter, "It's incredible what he continues to do to break records every three days. He is the leader and shows us how to compete." He added, "It is a blessing to be with him during this time of his career."
Nashville SC, which had been riding a five-match winning streak prior to this game, had climbed to third place in the Supporter's Shield standings during their unbeaten stretch that began in mid-April. This was their longest unbeaten run in club history.
Messi's first goal was a remarkable low free kick that bent through Nashville's defensive wall, bringing his total to 55 goals in 66 matches for Inter Miami.
Nashville's Hany Mukhtar managed to equalize shortly after halftime, heading in a cross from Andy Nájár in the 49th minute. However, Messi quickly regained the lead for Miami after intercepting a misplaced pass from Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis.
Mascherano noted that managing Messi's workload has been a topic of discussion among the coaching staff. The 38-year-old forward has played over 90 minutes in seven consecutive matches, including four Club World Cup games. "How do we take him out?" Mascherano pondered. "We understand that at some point we will have to find space to give him a little rest. We talk about it day by day. He feels fine, and we will make decisions based on how he feels."
