Second-half goals from Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez lifted Inter Miami to a 2-2 draw against Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup opener on Thursday night.
Inter Miami escaped with a draw in the game at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee, with Messi scoring in the 52nd minute and Suarez scoring in the final minutes of overtime. The second leg of the match between the two sides will take place on Wednesday at Inter Miami.
Nashville's Jacob Schaffelberg scored twice in the opening minutes of both halves, but Inter Miami struggled to find a rhythm against Nashville's defense and was without its key defender. are playing.
What is an aggregate in soccer?
The total score in soccer is the total number of goals scored by two teams in a series of matches.
As far as the Concacaf Champions Cup is concerned, its total score spans two matches. Each team will play one home game in the knockout round of two legs.
If both teams score the same number of goals after the second leg, the team with the most away goals will advance through an away goal tie-break. If both teams' goals and away goals are tied, the match will be decided in extra time and/or penalties.
Inter Miami may have tied with Nashville SC on Thursday night, but they will have a slight advantage returning to their home stadium with two away goals.
Luis Suarez goals: Nashville 2, Inter Miami 2
Inter Miami's comeback is complete. Luis Suarez would score in overtime late in the game and Inter Miami would leave Nashville with a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the Champions Cup.
The second leg will be played at Inter Miami on Wednesday.
This was Suarez's third goal in the last two games.
Shaq Moore goal ruled offside: Nashville 2, Inter Miami 1
Nashville's Shaq Moore scored in '83.rd However, the goal was ruled offside by VAR.
Nashville almost extended its lead to 3-1 in the final minutes when Moore sent a left-footed shot to the left of the goal.
Instead, the score remains 2-1.
Messi continues to play despite being sidelined with left foot injury: 2 games for Nashville, 1 game for Inter Miami
Messi was kicked in the lower leg after being kicked by Nashville's Lucas McNaughton, who was following the kick, causing his left ankle to rotate.
Messi was cared for by trainers and then stood on the sideline drinking a bottle of water before returning to the game with about 10 minutes remaining.
Messi, Suarez face off against Nashville players: Nashville 2, Inter Miami 1
Anger is brewing and Lionel Messi is making a mess of it.
Messi replaced Inter Miami's Luis Suarez in the 1967 game when he got into an altercation with Nashville's Anibal Godoy.th Minutes.
Messi spoke with former MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar after the match.
Inter Miami threatens in the 63rd minute: Nashville 2, Inter Miami 1
Inter Miami were awarded a free kick when Diego Gomez was brought down in front of the penalty area. Lionel Messi's free kick attempt was kicked wide by a Nashville corner kick, but no Miami player's head was found in the box.
Inter Miami goal ruled out for offside: Nashville 2, Inter Miami 1
Inter Miami's Diego Gomez found the back of the net in the 57th minute.th 1 minute, but it was ruled offside.
This goal came for Inter Miami, and the game was almost level at the start of the second half.
Lionel Messi goal highlights: Nashville 2, Inter Miami 1
This is where Lionel Messi comes to the rescue. Messi pulled Inter Miami back into the match with a goal in the 52nd minute.
Messi's shot was assisted into the left side of the goal by Luis Suarez.
Jacob Schaffelberg scores his second goal: Nashville 2, Inter Miami 0
Nashville's Jacob Schaffelberg scored in the opening minutes of both halves, this time in the 47th minute.
Messi receives hamstring massage on the sideline
Notable: Lionel Messi received treatment on the sole of his right foot before the match started.
Messi misses free kick before halftime: Nashville 1, Inter Miami 0
Inter Miami found themselves trailing 1-0 just four minutes into the game. Even towards the end of the first half, they were unable to tie the score.
Messi's free kick hit a wall of Nashville players, and Julian Gressel's rebound was saved by the Nashville goalie.
Inter Miami missed opportunities: Nashville 1, Inter Miami 0
Messi and Suarez almost had a chance inside the penalty area in the 37th minute.th However, Messi was unable to take the shot.
Federico Redondo yellow card: Nashville 1, Inter Miami 0
Inter Miami rookie Federico Redondo received a yellow card in 26 games.th One minute after a left elbow connected with Nashville's Jacob Schaffelberg for the first goal. This will be Redondo's debut after recently signing with Inter Miami.
Moments later, Inter Miami's Noah Allen and Nashville's Shaq Moore, who assisted the opening goal, collided with each other in head-butts, causing the game to be suspended.
Hany Mukhtar misses a shot in the 23rd minute: Nashville 1, Inter Miami 0
Hany Mukhtar's shot in the 23rd minute was saved by Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender just outside the right goal. After some congestion near midfield as Inter Miami tried to maintain possession, Mukhtar took a shot.
Latest updates since Messi's absence: Nashville 1, Inter Miami 0
Inter Miami's Luis Suarez missed a header close to the goal after receiving a corner kick from Messi. Nashville's Alex Muill took a header, but the ball was high and wide of the frame. And Suarez missed a shot from the left side.I'm currently in 20th placeth Minutes.
Messi misses the shot: Nashville 1, Inter Miami 0
Lionel Messi's first shot of the match was not curved enough.Messi connected with a left shot just before his 13th goal.th I got it, but it was wide to the left.
Jacob Schaffelburg goals: Nashville 1, Inter Miami 0
ah. Inter Miami fell behind in the opening minutes of tonight's Champions Cup game. Nashville's Jacob Schaffelberg scored in the fourth minute with an assist from Shaq Moore for a 1-0 lead.
The Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC game will kick off at 9:00 PM ET (8:00 PM CT) at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee. The match is available in English on his FS2 and in Spanish on TUDN.
clock: Messi and Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup in Fubo
ticket: Watch Messi and Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC live
Leo Campana absent from Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC due to foot injury
Inter Miami will be without Jordi Alba (illness) and Leo Campana, who came off the bench for Luis Suarez in the last two games. Campana suffered a leg injury during Wednesday's practice and was removed from Inter Miami's lineup, a team spokesperson told USA TODAY Sports.
Add in the fact that right winger DeAndre Yedlin was traded to Cincinnati, and Inter Miami's depth will be tested.
Good news: 21-year-old Argentine midfielder Federico Redondo will make his Inter Miami debut alongside Sergio Busquets. Veterans Noah Allen and Julian Gressel will replace Alba and Yedlin on defense.
Messi and Inter Miami arrive for Concaf Champions Cup vs. Nashville SC
See photos and videos of Inter Miami's arrival before their game against Nashville SC at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
Check out Inter Miami jerseys for Concaf Champions Cup vs. Nashville SC
Inter Miami will wear a pink jersey kit with the CONCACAF Champions Cup logo on the sleeve for tonight's game.
shop: Get the latest Messi and Inter Miami gear from the MLS Store
Will Messi play in the Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC game?
Lionel Messi is in Inter Miami's starting lineup for tonight's Concacaf Champions Cup match against Nashville SC. He also posted about it on Instagram early Thursday.
The starting lineup for Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC is as follows:
Inter Miami's Jordi Alba will not play in the match against Nashville
Inter Miami's Jordi Alba has been battling an illness this week. And they won't play against Nashville SC.
Asked if Alba had traveled to Nashville, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said: “You'll have to ring his doorbell to find out if he's here.''
Nashville MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar plays against Inter Miami
2022 MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar of Nashville is in the starting lineup for tonight's game despite suffering a recent hamstring injury.
“He is back working with the group and there is certainly some thought given to where and how he will be used.” [Thursday]Nashville coach Gary Smith spoke about Mukhtar, who was injured in the first leg of the Champions Cup against Dominican team Moca FC on February 22nd.
Inter Miami vs Nashville SC predictions
Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter: Inter Miami 3, Nashville SC 0
Nashville will play Inter Miami, which ends early, but Messi and Inter Miami are well-rested and returned from the Heater last week against Orlando City. Messi scored one goal and provided an assist to Luis Suarez, while another Inter Miami player, Julian Gressel, found the net in a 3-0 win.
Jacob Shames, Nashville SC Beat Writer, Tennessean: Inter Miami 2, Nashville SC 0
Even if Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge don't play, Nashville's defensive structure will frustrate Messi and Suarez, but in the end, Inter Miami's superior talent will overwhelm them. Dew. But if Nashville is at or near full strength, can they produce an offense that matches that? There's very little that goes wrong in that regard.
How did Inter Miami and Nashville SC qualify for the Concaf Champions Cup?
Inter Miami won the League Cup and advanced to the Round of 16 of the Champions Cup tournament.
Nashville SC defeated Dominican team Mocha FC 7-0 on aggregate to advance.
What is the Concacaf Champions Cup?
If you compare it to other soccer tournaments, it's like the CONMEBOL Libertadores or the UEFA Champions League.
The winner will qualify for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
What happened the last time Messi visited Nashville?
On August 19, 2023, Messi and Inter Miami defeated Nashville 1-1 (10-9 on penalties) to lift the League Cup trophy. This was Messi's seventh match against Inter Miami last summer, and the victory marked Inter Miami's first win of 2016. Four years of franchise history.
Messi scored in the 23rd minute.Nashville's Fafa Picoult scored 57 points.th Minutes. Both teams came close to winning in the final minutes of regulation, but it took a total of 22 penalties to decide it.
The last time the two teams met was on August 30th, which ended in a scoreless draw.
When is the Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC second leg?
Inter Miami and Nashville will each play regular season games on Sunday before the second leg of the Champions Cup.
Nashville hosts LA Galaxy on Sunday at 3pm ET, and Inter Miami hosts CF Montreal on Sunday at 5pm ET.
The second match between the two teams will take place on March 13th at 8:15pm ET at Inter Miami's Chase Stadium.
Concacaf Champions Cup: Recent Winners
- 2023: club leon
- 2022: Seattle Sounders FC
- 2021: CF Monterrey
- 2020: Tigress UANL
- 2019: CF Monterrey
The competition was known as the Concacaf Champions League from 2008 to 2023.
Could Lionel Messi's jam-packed schedule include a trip to Paris for the 2024 Olympics?
Argentina coach Javier Mascherano is hopeful but knows there are many things to consider for the 36-year-old.
Mascherano, who coaches Argentina's U-23 team, said he had talked with Messi about becoming one of three overage players who could be included on Argentina's Olympic roster.
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