Lionel Messi extended his remarkable scoring record against Nashville on Saturday, but Inter Miami were held to a 2-2 draw by the Eastern Conference leaders in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash.
Messi produced a superb curling finish in the 62nd minute at Miami’s Nu Stadium to put Inter 2-1 ahead. But Nashville snatched a point in stoppage time when striker Sam Surridge bundled the ball home from close range.
The 39-year-old Messi has now scored 17 goals in just 14 games against Nashville in all competitions since joining Miami in 2023.
He came close to adding to that tally on Saturday, striking the underside of the crossbar in the 50th minute before seeing another effort crash against the post in the 78th. A late Messi attempt was also headed clear by Nashville defender Jeisson Palacios before Surridge’s dramatic equaliser.
The draw leaves second-placed Inter Miami nine points behind Nashville with nine regular-season games remaining, as the two sides battle for top seeding in the Eastern Conference.
Nashville made a dream start when English forward Surridge sprung the offside trap in the fourth minute and calmly drilled a low shot into the bottom corner.
Miami responded midway through the first half, with Messi again at the heart of the move. His wickedly curling corner found Nashville defender Reed Baker-Whiting, who inadvertently glanced the ball into his own net to level the score.
Messi appeared to have completed the comeback midway through the second half. After combining with former Argentina international team-mate Rodrigo De Paul on the edge of the area, he curled a superb effort beyond the reach of Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake to give Miami the lead.
But Inter failed to put the game beyond Nashville’s reach, and they were punished in the dying moments when Surridge reacted quickest to fire home from close range and rescue a point for the visitors.
AFP
