Before the match, Messi and his teammates held a celebration for winning the Leagues Cup - defeating Nashville SC in the final after a penalty shootout (1-1 draw in regulation time).
Messi and teammates celebrate Leagues Cup championship with Inter Miami fans
The next time they met in MLS, Messi could not help Inter Miami win against Nashville SC. The 0-0 draw was also the first time Messi could not create another miracle since coming to the US. He did not score or assist in the match.
The last match Messi did not score was in the US Open Cup semi-final against FC Cincinnati (3-3 draw, Inter Miami won after penalty shootout), but he also contributed 2 decisive assists.
Messi was on the bench before coming on in the 60th minute of Inter Miami's recent 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls. Coach Tata Martino brought him back into the starting lineup alongside Busquets and Jordi Alba against Nashville SC, hoping to continue their winning streak.
Playing very hard, Messi helped Inter Miami take the initiative when he had 70% of the ball possession against Nashville SC, creating 3 clear scoring opportunities. But he, his teammate Jordi Alba and striker Robert Taylor all missed.
Messi (right) faces a very solid defense of Nashville SC
Nashville SC's defense played very solidly, blocking all opportunities created by Messi.
The draw prevented Inter Miami from improving its position in the 2023 MLS Eastern Conference standings, with 22 points after 24 matches still in 14th place. The opportunity for Messi and his teammates to compete for a ticket to the playoff round to compete for the championship will therefore be difficult. Inter Miami still has 10 matches in the MLS to keep their hopes alive.
Source link
Comment (0)