Inter Miami CF earned a 3-1 win over Nashville SC at home tonight in the second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 matchup to secure the team’s quarterfinals berth with an aggregate score of 5-3. Striker Luis Suárez, captain Lionel Messi and winger Robert Taylor scored the team’s goals in the emphatic win at Chase Stadium.
Lineup Notes
Inter Miami took the field for the second leg Round of 16 matchup with Drake Callender in goal; Julian Gressel, Tomás Avilés, Sergii Kryvtsov, Nicolás Freire and Jordi Alba made up a backline of five; Diego Gómez, Sergio Busquets and Federico Redondo started in midfield; captain Messi and Suárez led the team in attack.
Match Action
The hosts started the match on the front foot and found the opener early to take the lead on the aggregate score; with Suárez beating the keeper with a sublime outside of the foot flick inside the box following an inch-perfect through ball from Messi to culminate a fantastic team play in the 8th minute. The goal was the fourth for Suárez this season who has now tallied four goals in the past four matches, while the assist was the first for Messi in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup and his overall second of the season.
Inter Miami then continued generating danger in the opponent's third and was rewarded with a second goal; with Messi getting on the scoresheet in the 23rd minute. A play started by an incisive run from Gómez to break into the box followed by a pass to Messi in the center of the box then saw the Argentine finish off with a left footed strike to the far post to extend the hosts lead to 2-0. The goal was Messi’s second in the series and his overall fifth this campaign, while the assist was the first for Gómez in 2024.
In all, Inter Miami finished the first half with five shots generated and went into the break with its 2-0 lead intact.
The second half then started with a big save by Callender in the 54th minute, showing quick reflexes to send a close range attempt inside the box to keep Nashville scoreless.
Despite the visitor’s efforts in attack, it was Inter Miami who subsequently struck again to extend its lead minutes later. In the 63rd minute, Gressel received a long ball on the right wing, where he passed the ball to Suárez outside the box. The Uruguayan forward then sent a perfectly timed cross for Taylor in the middle of the box, where the Finnish winger finished with a header to the near post to beat the keeper and put the hosts ahead 3-0. The goal was Taylor’s first in the competition and overall third of the season, while the assist was the second for Suárez in the Concacaf Champions Cup and took his tally for the year to five.
Nashville was then able to cut the hosts lead by one, with forward Sam Surridge scoring in the third minute of stoppage time.
The 3-1 scoreline then remained unmoved throughout the final moments for Inter Miami to secure the win at Chase Stadium and win the Round of 16 series with a 5-3 aggregate score to clinch a quarterfinals berth.
Post-Match Reaction
"Today we scored early and then it was them that had to take the initiative, but I think that we were organized defensively in the first half. I think it's something we did really well,” said head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino.
Next Match
Inter Miami will now hit the road to resume MLS regular season action this Saturday, March 16, with the team set to face D.C. United at Audi Field at 2 p.m. ET.
Stats
Possession:
MIA - 47%
NSH - 53%
Shots:
MIA - 10
NSH - 14
Saves:
MIA - 2
NSH - 2
Corners:
MIA - 2
NSH - 2
Fouls:
MIA - 13
NSH - 8
