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Lionel Messi scored again for Inter Miami in a 2-2 draw with MLS-leaders Nashville. Messi’s goal put Miami up 2-1, but Sam Surridge equalised in injury time.
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi celebrates after giving his team the lead. (AP Photo)
Lionel Messi continued his remarkable scoring dominance over Nashville on Saturday, but Inter Miami had to settle for a 2-2 draw against the MLS leaders in a top-of-the-table Eastern Conference showdown.
Messi put Miami ahead in the 62nd minute at Miami’s Nu Stadium, curling a superb effort into the net to make it 2-1. But Nashville refused to leave empty-handed, with striker Sam Surridge scoring an injury-time equaliser to rescue a point.
The goal was Messi’s 17th in just 14 appearances against Nashville in all competitions since he joined Inter Miami in 2023. The 39-year-old had several opportunities to add to that tally during Saturday’s contest.
In the 50th minute, Messi struck the underside of the crossbar, while another effort hit the post in the 78th. Nashville defender Jeisson Palacios also got in the way of a late Messi attempt, heading the ball clear before Surridge completed the comeback.
The draw leaves Inter Miami nine points behind Nashville in the battle for top seeding, with nine regular-season matches still to play.
Nashville made the perfect start when Surridge beat the offside trap in the fourth minute and fired a low shot into the bottom corner.
Miami responded midway through the opening half, with Messi once again at the center of the action. His dangerous in-swinging corner picked out Nashville defender Reed Baker-Whiting, who inadvertently glanced the ball into his own net to level the score.
Messi appeared to have produced the decisive moment after the break when he linked up with former Argentina international team-mate Rodrigo De Paul just outside the penalty area. Messi then curled his shot beyond the reach of Brian Schwake to put Miami 2-1 up.
However, Miami could not find a third goal to put the game beyond Nashville. Surridge struck from close range during injury time, earning the visitors a share of the points and denying Miami victory.
With AFP Inputs
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Ask News18Lionel Messi has scored 17 goals in 14 appearances against Nashville in all competitions since he joined Inter Miami in 2023.
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Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience …Read More
September 13, 2026, 07:39 IST
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