MLS: Messi keeps Miami on top
Fort Lauderdale (United States) – Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to a commanding 3-1 victory over Nashville in Major League Soccer, solidifying their position at the summit of the Eastern Conference.
The match had commenced with an early setback for Miami as defender Franco Negri inadvertently deflected a corner from Nashville’s Daniel Lovitz into his own net, giving the visitors a surprising lead just two minutes into the game. However, Miami’s star-studded lineup, spearheaded by Messi, quickly rallied to turn the tide in their favor.
In the 11th minute, a clever flick from Diego Gomez set Messi free, and although his initial shot was parried out by Nashville keeper Elliot Panicco, Luis Suarez redirected the loose ball back to the Argentine legend, who calmly slotted it into the net to level the score at 1-1. Messi continued to torment Nashville’s defense with his exquisite footwork and precise passing, creating numerous scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Six minutes before halftime, Sergio Busquets capitalized on a perfectly delivered corner from Messi, executing a superb glancing header to give Miami a 2-1 lead. Despite the setback, Nashville refused to back down and launched several attacking maneuvers in search of an equalizer. However, Miami’s defense stood firm, thwarting every attempt by the visitors to breach their lines.
As the second half unfolded, Nashville intensified their efforts to claw their way back into the game, dominating possession and launching waves of attacks. However, Miami’s resolute defense held firm, denying Nashville any clear-cut scoring opportunities. In the 81st minute, Miami effectively sealed the victory when Leonardo Afonso was brought down inside the penalty box by Nashville’s Josh Bauer. Messi stepped up to take the penalty and calmly dispatched it into the back of the net, securing his brace for the game and his ninth goal in as many appearances for Miami across all competitions.
Following the match, Miami’s manager Gerardo Martino expressed his dissatisfaction with his team’s sluggish start but commended their resilience in securing the victory. Martino acknowledged the challenges posed by several key players being sidelined due to injuries but emphasized the importance of collecting points early in the season to alleviate pressure in the later stages. He remarked, “All this happens to us, and we have still collected 18 points, which is significantly more than last year at this stage.”
Meanwhile, in other MLS fixtures on the same day, champions Columbus Crew battled to a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Phil Neville’s Portland Timbers, with French full-back Steven Moreira’s stunning long-range strike salvaging a point for the holders. Additionally, Cincinnati clinched a remarkable 2-1 victory over Atlanta United, with Luciano Acosta playing a pivotal role by scoring the winning goal after assisting Luca Orellano’s equalizer.
(Source: AFP)
