Inter Miami vs Nashville SC score, result, highlights as Lionel Messi stymied by Gary Smith low block

For the very first time since Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami, the superstar and his MLS team found themselves unable to find the back of the net. It took a full 90 minutes of determined defense from Nashville’s head coach, Gary Smith, to achieve this feat. This goal drought occurred after 11 matches into Messi’s journey with Inter Miami. Notably, Messi himself, in his debut season with the club, failed to make any goal contributions during the entire match.

Despite commanding the lion’s share of possession, the hosts at DRV PNK Stadium struggled to capitalize on it. Messi and his teammates encountered a formidable Nashville defensive line that combined with swift counter-attacks to thwart their every move. Surprisingly, it was Nashville SC that created more scoring opportunities throughout the game, even though they held only 31 percent of possession. Meanwhile, Inter Miami grew increasingly frustrated and engaged in persistent disputes with referee Chris Penso, which yielded no positive results.

Nashville SC, currently occupying the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference, would be content with securing a valuable point on the road. However, for Inter Miami, their lack of offensive prowess was a source of disappointment. They find themselves yearning for every available point in their pursuit of a coveted playoff berth.

Live Match Updates, Highlights, and Commentary: Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC

FULLTIME: Inter Miami 0-0 Nashville SC

In a tactical showdown orchestrated by Gary Smith, we witnessed a defensive masterpiece that resulted in a scoreless draw. This outcome was particularly favorable for Nashville SC. Despite enjoying possession for over two-thirds of the match, Inter Miami struggled to make any significant impact. On the flip side, Nashville proved to be a constant threat on the counter-attack, and they might be the ones feeling a bit unlucky not to secure the victory.

However, as the final whistle blew, it was Inter Miami who were left with a sense of frustration. Every point is crucial in the heated MLS playoff race, and dropping points at home, especially when the opponent adopts such a defensive posture, will undoubtedly be exasperating for them. This missed opportunity to climb the standings stings, but Inter Miami will have to accept it, particularly in light of results from other teams in the league.

90th min: Drama unfolds at the 11th hour! Inter Miami finds itself in a precarious situation. A seemingly innocuous cross from Jacob Shaffelburg strikes DeAndre Yedlin’s outstretched arm, positioned awkwardly by his side. Initially, Chris Penso doesn’t signal for a penalty, but upon review with the VAR monitor…

It’s a clear-cut penalty! However, as the review unfolds, another twist emerges – an offside in the build-up! The replay confirms the right call; Shaffelburg was indeed offside when receiving the ball. Inter Miami breathes a sigh of relief!

The fourth official indicates five minutes of stoppage time…

88th min: David Ruiz fires off a shot from an acute angle, but it lands comfortably in the waiting arms of Elliot Panicco. Nashville takes control, expertly managing possession, and effectively draining the clock. Time is slipping away for Inter Miami, who desperately need every point for their MLS playoff aspirations.

84th min: Nashville SC earns a promising set-piece opportunity as David Ruiz fouls Hany Mukhtar. Ruiz initially executed a well-timed tackle to dispossess Mukhtar, but the German swiftly regained possession, and Ruiz committed the foul. Mukhtar steps up to take the free-kick, but it meets a resolute wall of defenders, denying any danger.

81st min: Lionel Messi embarks on a solo run, slicing through Nashville’s defensive ranks, only to be tripped by Jack Maher at the edge of the penalty area. Maher receives a yellow card, and Inter Miami is awarded a dangerous free-kick well within Messi’s striking range. The Argentine superstar unleashes a thunderous shot, but it smashes into the wall, resulting in a corner. Inter Miami opts for a short corner routine, but the ball never finds its way into the danger zone, instead retreating all the way back – a missed opportunity.

77th min: Tomas Aviles enters the referee’s book with a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Fafa Picault. It’s a rather ill-advised tackle from the 19-year-old Inter Miami defender.

66th min: Chance, Inter Miami! The hosts finally have their first shot on target from open play of the evening, as Facundo Farias has a go from distance, but it’s far too central and Elliot Panicco makes the save.

59th min: Dax McCarty is skinned by Lionel Messi, and has no choice but to ankle tackle the Argentine just outside the penalty area, and earns a booking. This is a very dangerous free-kick opportunity for the GOAT, as Elliot Panicco sets up his wall…he puts it on the frame past the wall, but it’s into the arms of Panicco! The save is comfortable in the end.

57th min: Chance, Nashville SC! WHAT A TACKLE BY KAMAL MILLER TO SAVE A GOAL! Jacob Shaffelburg feeds Hany Mukhtar clean through on goal, but Miller comes in from behind to scythe down the opportunity before he takes a shot! WOW!

46th min: In the blink of an eye at the start of the second half, Nashville SC capitalizes on a momentarily dozing Inter Miami defense during a free-kick situation. Hany Mukhtar unleashes a thunderous strike from distance, narrowly sailing it over the crossbar! An early warning sign for the home side!

Interestingly, it appears that Robert Taylor has taken up a central midfield role, while Facundo Farias assumes the No. 10 position, orchestrating play behind the dynamic duo of Lionel Messi and Josef Martinez.

Kickoff: Nashville SC’s head honcho, Gary Smith, introduces two attacking alterations, with Hany Mukhtar and Jacob Shaffelburg entering the fray. These substitutions send a clear message – Smith acknowledges the first half’s brilliance but demands more precision in the final third when opportunities arise.

In response, Gerardo Martino opts for an offensive-minded midfielder in Facundo Farias, replacing the defensive presence of Dixon Arroyo. Taylor Twellman astutely points out on the Apple TV broadcast that Tata’s decision to bolster the midfield with a more attacking presence likely anticipated Nashville’s intention to maintain a defensive stance. However, the visitors’ introduction of two additional attackers seems to defy expectations, suggesting a shift away from a purely defensive approach.

HALFTIME

Inter Miami 0-0 Nashville SC As the first 45 minutes draw to a close, Inter Miami wears a mask of frustration. Despite dominating possession, the hosts have struggled to break down Nashville’s resolute low block. Their efforts yielded only three shots, none of which found the target.

Apple TV commentator Taylor Twellman aptly noted at one point that it felt as if Inter Miami was playing with a numerical advantage, a sentiment that’s hard to dispute. Exiting the field at halftime without a goal has left the Herons seething with frustration. The sight of Jordi Alba angrily blasting the ball in frustration, following a prior booking, epitomizes their mood. Tata Martino faces the task of calming his side during the break.

Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC: First Half

43rd min: A tantalizing opportunity unfolds for Inter Miami! Robert Taylor receives the ball at the penalty spot, his back to the goal, but executes a superb turn and fires off a shot. It narrowly misses the target but takes a deflection—a crucial detail missed by the referee crew, who award a goal kick. Inter Miami can consider themselves unfortunate not to have earned a set-piece there.

35th min: In a daring aerial challenge at the edge of the Inter Miami penalty area, Drake Callender collides with Teal Bunbury. Callender, coming off his line, manages to win the contest, albeit somewhat awkwardly. The ball rolls out of play harmlessly for a goal kick.

Bunbury continues for a short while before briefly going down, seeking treatment. However, he quickly gets back on his feet and returns to the field, appearing to be in good condition.

34th min: An excellent chance arises for Inter Miami! Robert Taylor receives a pass from Lionel Messi in a central position and takes a powerful shot from 22 yards out. The effort is high on power but lacking in precision as it sails over the crossbar. This stands as the best scoring opportunity of the match thus far.

Throughout this half, it feels as though the entire game has been played in Nashville’s half. Despite dominating possession, Inter Miami has been limited to just two shots. They’ve controlled the lion’s share of meaningful possession but have struggled to translate it into tangible results. Credit must be given to the resilient Nashville SC defenders, at least for now. If this pattern persists, an opening goal appears inevitable, and Nashville will need to find a way to alleviate the mounting pressure.

26th min: Jack Maher deserves plaudits for his adept defending against Lionel Messi, as he effectively shields the Argentine maestro while he dribbles laterally along the top of the 18-yard box. It could have been a potentially dangerous moment.

Moments later, Messi supplies a pass to Jordi Alba, seemingly putting him in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper from a tight angle. However, Lukas MacNaughton intervenes, using his body to shield Alba. The Nashville center-backs, operating without their captain, Walker Zimmerman, have displayed exceptional defensive prowess thus far.

25th min: Tensions run high at DRV PNK Stadium as Lionel Messi engages in a physical battle with Lukas MacNaughton while chasing down a through-ball. The two players engage in a spirited push-and-shove contest, both vying for control of the ball. In the end, it’s Messi who is whistled for the foul, much to the chagrin of the disgruntled crowd.

19th min: Nashville racks up another foul, their fifth of the match, in contrast to Inter Miami’s one. Lionel Messi steps up to take the free-kick, aiming for Sergio Busquets at the far post. However, Shaq Moore displays impeccable defending, effectively blocking Busquets’ sliding attempt to reach the ball. Moments later, Jack Maher becomes the target of Lionel Messi’s frustration, prompting referee Chris Penso to intervene and hold a discussion with both players.

14th min: DeAndre Yedlin wins a free-kick in the attacking third after skillfully evading Randall Leal’s challenge. The fouls are accumulating early for the visiting team. Despite the set-piece opportunity, Inter Miami struggles to find openings in Nashville’s tightly-packed defensive formation.

9th min: Nashville SC gains their first sustained period of possession in the final third, leading to a deflected deep cross that ultimately results in a corner. The initial delivery is expertly cleared by Josef Martinez, and on the follow-up attempt, Jack Maher sends the ball soaring high above the crossbar.

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7th min: Diego Gomez finds himself on the receiving end of several fouls already. Tata Martino wears a concerned expression as his young midfielder lies on the turf, grimacing in discomfort after a challenge from Randall Leal. Gomez receives some on-field treatment and bravely continues.

4th min: Inter Miami seizes control of early possession, a trend expected to persist throughout the match. However, they have yet to translate this dominance into meaningful opportunities, with the exception of Robert Taylor’s long switch pass to DeAndre Yedlin along the byline, which unfortunately eluded Yedlin and rolled out of play.

Kickoff:

The match is officially underway! Lionel Messi encounters his first rematch as an Inter Miami player, facing off against Nashville SC, who seek retribution following their penalty shootout defeat in the Leagues Cup final. Notably, Nashville fields a significantly altered squad, with Hany Mukhtar among those on the bench, creating a sense of intrigue.

Prior to kick-off, Inter Miami’s captain, Lionel Messi, and vice-captain, DeAndre Yedlin, proudly presented the Leagues Cup trophy to the fans. This moment marked their return to DRV PNK Stadium after securing the club’s inaugural piece of silverware.