FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi’s first-half brace propelled Inter Miami to a 4-0 victory over Nashville SC at Chase Stadium on Saturday to advance within the MLS playoffs for the primary time in membership historical past.
Tadeo Allende wrapped up the win with a quickfire double of his personal late within the second half, with Messi offering the help for the second.
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With the win, Miami clinched the Spherical One best-of-three recreation collection 2-1 to progress to the Japanese Convention semifinals and a gathering with No. 2 seed FC Cincinnati.
Inter Miami entered the sport at an obstacle with out Luis Suárez, who watched from the sidelines after receiving a one-game suspension from the MLS disciplinary committee for violent conduct within the second match of the collection final week.
Regardless of the absence of the veteran striker, Inter Miami earned the early lead within the tenth minute after Messi took possession of the ball within the remaining third and fired a shot into the decrease proper nook of the purpose.
Messi then doubled the rating late within the second half with the assistance of Mateo Silvetti, the participant head coach Javier Mascherano selected to exchange Suárez within the beginning 11.
Miami continued to dominate as the sport progressed, inspiring Allende to attain two objectives within the span of 5 minutes to clinch the ticket to the following spherical of the playoffs.
Regardless of Nashville’s 11 photographs all through the match, goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo saved the workforce’s first clear sheet of the 2025 postseason.
Messi, contemporary off profitable the Golden Boot throughout the common season, completed the three-game collection with 5 objectives. He has 12 objectives in simply seven profession matches towards Nashville, essentially the most towards any MLS opponent since his arrival in July 2023.
Miami, the No. 3 seed within the East, now prepares to face FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium in Ohio for the one-match Japanese Convention semifinal. Inter Miami beforehand didn’t advance out of the primary spherical of the playoffs, falling on the opening hurdle in 2022 and 2024.
A 12 months in the past, in Messi’s first full season with the membership, it misplaced a Sport 3 of Spherical 1 at residence because the Supporters’ Protect winners and have been ousted by Atlanta.
Saturday’s victory ensured no less than yet another recreation within the profession of Messi’s longtime teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who’ve each introduced they’ll retire on the finish of the present season.
The Inter Miami-Cincinnati winner will play both top-seeded Philadelphia Union or fifth-seeded New York Metropolis FC within the East remaining. The MLS Cup remaining is scheduled for Dec. 6, and Philadelphia, Cincinnati or Inter Miami would all play host that match if it acquired to the title recreation.
Info from the Related Press and ESPN Analysis was used on this report.