Lionel Messi delivered a masterclass on Saturday night, scoring twice and assisting twice as Inter Miami cruised to a 4–0 victory over Nashville SC, advancing to the MLS Eastern Conference semifinals.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner opened the scoring in the 10th minute and struck again in the 39th before setting up Tadeo Allende for quickfire goals in the 73rd and 76th minutes to seal a commanding win at DRV PNK Stadium.
“I want to congratulate Leo for the game he played,” said Miami coach Javier Mascherano. “He was the first one to guide us in high pressing. To see him press like that at 38 years old is incredible. Everyone knows what Leo can do with the ball, but what he did without it today was just as impressive.”
The result gave Miami a 2–1 win in the best-of-three first-round series, booking a second-round clash with FC Cincinnati, who edged Columbus Crew 2–1 in their own decisive matchup.
“The team played an almost perfect game,” Mascherano added. “We were very intense from the first minute, well organized, and very strong in our pressing.”
Saturday’s victory ensures Miami avoid a third straight first-round playoff exit, having fallen to Atlanta United in 2024 and New York City FC in 2022.
“It would have been very unfair to go out at this stage,” Mascherano said. “You could feel the fear of a repeat of last year, but now we’re looking forward.”
Messi’s magic
Messi opened the scoring when he pounced on a deflected ball and fired a low left-footed strike into the bottom-right corner. He doubled the lead in the 39th minute, blasting another left-footed shot from the edge of the box after a clever pass from Argentine teen Mateo Silvetti.
Allende made it 3–0 in the 73rd minute, finishing from close range after neat buildup play from Messi and Jordi Alba, then completed his brace three minutes later by chipping home from Messi’s long through pass.
Miami’s win came without striker Luis Suárez, who served a one-match suspension for violent conduct in the previous leg.
At Cincinnati, Jacen Russell-Rowe gave Columbus a 1–0 lead in the 61st minute, but Brenner Souza struck twice in the 67th and 86th to lift the hosts into a home semifinal against Miami.
“It’s going to be a very tough conference semifinal,” Mascherano said. “We were below them in the regular season, but in the last game here, we left with very good feelings.”
In the Western Conference, Minnesota United advanced after a dramatic 7–6 penalty shootout win over Seattle Sounders, following a 3–3 draw.
The shootout ended in the 10th round when Seattle’s backup goalkeeper Andrew Thomas, subbed in for penalties, struck his attempt off the crossbar. MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair scored the winning kick moments earlier to send Minnesota through.
Thomas was injured early in the shootout but continued, while Seattle’s Jordan Morris had forced extra time with an 88th-minute equalizer. The Sounders missed two chances to win in sudden death, with Obed Vargas hitting the post and Osaze De Rosario denied by St. Clair.
Minnesota will face the winner of Portland vs. San Diego, who play on Sunday.
