Nashville SC 2-2 Inter Miami CF (8 Mar, 2024) Game Analysis

Luis Suarez scored in stoppage time and Lionel Messi scored shortly after halftime to help Inter Miami tie Nashville 2-2 on Thursday night in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

The teams will meet on Wednesday evening in Miami for the second leg of the home-and-away round of 16 tie, with Miami holding a decisive advantage thanks to the away goals rule.

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Suarez equalized by scoring in the fifth minute of added time with a header from a cross from his former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets. Messi put Inter Miami on the board with his first Concacaf goal in the 52nd minute.

Jacob Shaffelburg scored in the fourth minute and then again in the 47th minute after halftime to give Nashville a 2-0 lead. The home team thought they had a 3-1 lead when Shaq Moore scored in the 83rd minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

All eyes were on Messi.

Once the match was set last week, ticket prices looked set to skyrocket, similar to Messi's first visit to Nashville last August for the Leagues Cup final. Tickets remained available on Thursday, even though Messi's pink jerseys dotted Geodis Park. Fans also repeatedly chanted the name of the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Messi scored in regulation and converted the first shot on penalties the last time these teams played here. He had to be a little more patient Thursday evening.

He missed in the 13th minute by trying to bend the ball just inside the left edge of the goal from the middle of the area with his left kick going just wide – then seemed to wonder how he hadn't brand. Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis stopped Messi's shot on his right foot in the 37th minute from the top of the box.

A penalty gave Messi a chance just before halftime in stoppage time, but his free kick hit the Nashville wall. Julian Gressel tried to chase the ball and got his right foot on it, only to see Willis smother the shot late in the half.

Shaffelburg put Nashville up just after the kickoff, scoring on Drake Callender off a pass from Moore and putting the ball under the crossbar before dropping to his knees and celebrating the early lead. Shaffelburg scored from the left side on a pass from Sean Davis for a 2-0 lead.

It didn't last as Messi finally did what everyone expected.

Suarez found his former Barcelona teammate, Messi, just outside the box and he used his left foot to squeeze the ball through Willis' outstretched right fingers and inside the left post in the 52nd minute to bring Miami back to 2-1.

Messi had a bit of a scare late in the match when Nashville defender Lukas Macnaughton stepped on his left calf. A coach checked on Messi, who remained on the pitch.

Before the match, Nashville announced a contract extension with German midfielder Hany Mukhtar to keep the 2022 MLS MVP and Golden Boot with the club through 2026. Nashville also has an option for 2027 for the double All-Star, which is the club. all-time leader in goals, assists and points.

Callendar made a good save from Mukhtar's shot on the post in the 23rd minute.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.