Nashville SC’s return to action after a two-week hiatus began with promise but ended in disappointment. Despite taking an early lead in the second minute, the team suffered a 3-1 defeat against Inter Miami on Saturday night at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Lionel Messi, the Argentine superstar, proved to be the difference maker, scoring twice and providing an assist for Inter Miami’s comeback victory.
The loss marked Nashville’s second consecutive defeat and extended their winless streak to four games.
Messi showcased his prowess by finding the back of the net in the first half and later setting up former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets for a crucial goal just before halftime.
He then put the game beyond doubt with a well-taken penalty kick in the 81st minute, maintaining his impressive scoring record against Nashville with five goals in as many encounters.
Nashville’s next game is April 27 at Geodis Park against the San Jose Earthquakes.
“We created some very, very good chances that we should have taken more advantage of,” Nashville coach Gary Smith said. “I saw loads of positives . . . We have four out of five games at home that I’m now looking forward to. I’m not sure I would have said that a couple weeks ago.
“We’re in, I think, a very decent place mentally. The players have given a tremendous effort tonight in a very difficult environment against a tough team, and I think we’re some very fine lines away from putting points back on the board again.”
Early Pressure Pays Off For Nashville
Despite Inter Miami boasting the second-highest possession percentage in MLS at 57.7%, it was Nashville, with a comparatively lower possession rate of 46.7%, that dominated the opening stages of the match, effectively stifling Miami with their relentless press.
Nashville’s breakthrough came from a promising corner kick delivered by Dan Lovitz, which deflected off Inter Miami defender Franco Negri and found the back of the net for Nashville’s opening goal.
Just three minutes later, Josh Bauer came close to doubling the lead with a shot that struck the post from close range.
Coach Smith praised his players’ intensity in the early stages of the game, stating,
“The first 20 minutes of the game, the players showed a hell of a lot of intensity.”
Night To Forget For Elliot Panicco
Elliot Panicco earned his third consecutive start over Joe Willis in goal on Saturday, but it could be his last for the foreseeable future.
While Panicco managed to make an initial save from Messi’s shot, he couldn’t prevent the ball from rebounding in the box, allowing Messi to capitalize and score into an open net in the 11th minute.
He was also culpable for Inter Miami’s second goal 25 minutes later, as his wayward clearance, among several others throughout the match, directly led to Busquets’ goal from a set-piece.
Struggling with possession throughout the first half, Panicco’s performance prompted Coach Smith to make a significant decision at halftime, substituting him out for Willis.
This marked the first time Smith had ever made such a substitution during his tenure as Nashville SC coach.
Missed Opportunities Doom Nashville To Defeat
Despite Nashville’s improved performance in the second half, the team will rue missed opportunities as they return home.
Striker Sam Surridge endured a frustrating night, failing to convert any of his four chances despite a combined expected goals (xG) of 1.01.
His header in the sixth minute carried an xG of 0.49, and later in the first half, he saw a shot blocked during a promising 2-on-1 opportunity with Hany Mukhtar.
Nashville continued to create chances in the second half, but their hopes were dashed in the 81st minute when Josh Bauer conceded a foul on the edge of the penalty box.
Messi capitalized on the resulting penalty kick to seal the game for Inter Miami.
“The reaction of the players at halftime was fantastic,” Smith said. “There were certainly some very good moments in that second period, and in the end I think we let them off the hook a little bit.”
