Lionel Messi missed another penalty and was booked as Inter Miami suffered a 4-1 defeat to Nashville SC on Saturday in a top-of-the-table MLS clash.
England striker Sam Surridge and Germany international Hany Mukhtar scored second-half goals as Nashville strengthened its position at the top of Major League Soccer.
Messi, the Argentina and Inter Miami captain, saw his first-half penalty saved and was shown a yellow card in the 59th minute. He did, however, provide the assist for Miami’s equalizer.
The defeat ended Miami’s seven-match unbeaten run in MLS and marked only its second loss of the league season.
Nashville took the lead in the 17th minute when Honduran defender Andy Najar headed home.
Miami had a chance to level the score six minutes later after being awarded a penalty, but Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake comfortably saved Messi’s effort.
The miss added to Messi’s recent struggles from the spot. Despite his remarkable career record, the 39-year-old has endured several notable penalty misses, including two at the World Cup.
Miami eventually found an equalizer three minutes into first-half stoppage time. Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia fired a right-footed shot into the net after being set up by Messi.
Nashville regained the lead in the 49th minute when Mukhtar, the 2022 MLS Most Valuable Player, found the net.
Surridge then extended the hosts’ advantage before Mukhtar scored his second of the night in the 63rd minute to complete the 4-1 victory.
Messi came close to pulling another goal back in second-half stoppage time, but his effort struck both posts.
Nashville now leads MLS with 43 points from 19 matches, having won 13, drawn four and lost two. Inter Miami remain second with 38 points.
The result was another setback for Miami against Nashville, which had already eliminated the Florida club from this year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup in the round of 16.
Miami had entered the match with the league’s best away record at 8-1-1 but saw that strong run halted as Nashville maintained its unbeaten home record in MLS.
AFP
