Inter Miami vs Nashville SC, summary: VAR, score, goals & highlights | MLS 2023
Inter Miami vs Nashville SC: as it happened
And we'll leave it there!
Thank you for following the AS USA live coverage of Inter Miami 0-0 Nashville SC, it's been a blast!
Joe
Next games:
Saturday: Nashville vs Charlotte
Sunday: LAFC vs InterMiami
As for Inter Miami...
They stay second bottom of the table, on 22 points, level with bottom side, Toronto.
They are ten points below the playoff line with two games in hand.
They are also 7 points away from New York City in 13th, who have 29 and are level with NYRB. A little ahead of them, on 30, are both DC United and Charlotte, showing just how congested the table is above Inter Miami, if they can just make up that ground.
'A hard earned point' is right!
And one they should be proud of. That draw sees Nashville stay in 7th place with 39 points, 4 ahead of Montréal and just 2 behind Atlanta United, who lost 2-1 to Cincinnati.
Full-time stats (Miami-Nashville)
xG: 1.06 - 0.44
Possession: 71-29
Shots: 14-7
Ontarget: 5-2
A frustrating night for Messi and co.
Nashville defended superbly well for 98 minutes as Miami and Messihuffed and puffed their way to a goalless draw in MLS, which sees their chances of playoff qualification look even slimmer.
Chances were at a premium as crosses, shots and dribbles were blocked, tackled and cleared by Gary Smith's side, who became the first team to keep a clean sheet against Messi's Miami.
Tata Martino threw on his attacking youngsters but they failed to change the game, whereas Smith's subs for Nashville caused a huge amount of problems for the home side.
A late VAR call almost saw Nashville get a penalty in added time for a handball by Yedlin, but an earlier offside call saved them and let them get out with a point.
And then, at the end, Messi almost won it for his side after taking the game by the scruff of the neck, taking on 3 players before seeing his shot saved by Panicco.
Overall, it was a fantastic game from Nashville, who kept Messi to his first goalless game in Miami and his first game for his side with no goal involvements.
FULL TIME!
Nashville are the first team to keep Leo Messi off the score sheet in Miami!
Messi went round three players on the right and saw a rifle shot saved by Panicco!
MEESI SHOT SAVED!!!!!
Penso calls a foul on Miami as Callender scrambles and misses the ball; a huge, stadium-wide gasp is heard.
Campana heads away but another corner is given after Mukhtar sees another cross blocked out.
Shaffelburg and Mukhtar are still finding their moments to scare the home side and nervous fans, who have no fingernails left.
Corner to Nashville...
Messi finds a yard on the edge of the box and shoots only to see it blocked by Anunga, who has been excellent today.
Miami attack with Cremaschi and Alba as Nashville race back to defend.
5 added minutes.
Shaffelburg was offside in the build up and Miami have a free-kick in their own half.
NO PENALTY! OFFSIDE!
The cross comes in and the ball definitely hits Yedlin's hand. For me, that's a penalty.
The referees are also looking at a potential offside; Penso is going to the screen!
Hold on, we've got a VAR check for a possible penalty against Yedlin; the ball certainly hit his arm...
And Nashville win a corner, just before stoppage time.
Nashville are doing well to take the sting out of the game, they are keeping possession well in their own half as the clock ticks down.
Cremaschi plays a pass through the lines that Messi would be proud of towards Diaz, but the shot angle is tight and the weak effort is saved.
Farías, who has had quite the stinker, plays another poor pass towards Messi as Miami launch a failed attack.
INTO THE WALL
Mukhtar steps up...
Mukhtar and Lovitz over the ball; 6 players are in Miami's wall...
Davis ON
Fafà OFF
And Mukhtar wins a very dangerous free-kick on the edge of the box after a terribly poor set-piece from Miami, who played short and forced all of their defenders to scramble back in a flash as the away side broke away.
Nashville counter...
INTO THE WALL
A couple of very interesting decisions there. Messi's free-kick is 30 yards out on the right of the central channel.
Yedlin brings down Shaffelburg as the Nashville player breaks away and the referee says... nothing!
Miami break and Messi is brought down on the edge of the box by Maher. Free-kick.
Anunga falls over inside the box as Miami attack but he gets a crucial toe on the Spaniard's low cross to put an end to the danger.
Cremaschi gets frustrated and needlessly fouls Haakenson, and is lucky not to get yellow card number six.
Aviles is booked for chopping down Fafà.
Yellow card number 5 of the game.
Farías goes for goal from distance. Well over the bar.
Nashville are sitting deep as Miami pass the ball in front of them. It will be Messi and Alba or nothing at this rate.
Alba plays Campana in behind and the cross goes out for a corner, but Miami want a penalty for handball. Not given.
A beautiful slide tackle on Messi from Fafà sees Messi lose the ball as he shapes to shoot. Live saving.
The anxiety levels inside DRV PNK Stadium are rising...
A half chance as Alba gets in behind and squares a low cross towards goal. Maher slides in to clear.
Cremaschi, Campana, Ruiz ON
Gomez, Taylor and Martinez OFF
NO! OFFSIDE!
The flag went up very late there as Mukhtar and Fafà linked up to get in behind Miami, with the substitute getting the tap in.
The replay shows that Fafà was actually offside for the original ball through the defensive line.
Martínex finds space on the edge of the box but by the time he has realised his position, Nashville have covered well.
Shaffelburg is played in behind the Miami defence as Nashville counter and Callender makes a huge save from close range!
The game is broken!
HUGE SAVE FROM CALLENDER!!!!
Panicco saves a shot from Farias!
Godoy and Haakenson ON
McCarty and Muyl OFF
Nashville are quietening the crowd with some calm possession, all orchestrated by Hany Mukhtar.
A fantastic moment of madness as Miller challenges Mukhtar and wins the ball back beautifully.
He then proceeds to skip past 2 and then 3 Nashville players and makes it all the way from defence into the Nashville box, where Miami are dispossessed.
Mukhtar goes straight up the other end and forces Callender off his line. Miami, despite the possession, look shaky at the back.
SAVED BY PANICCO!
The Argentine went for the far post and the Nashville goalkeeper saved easily.
It's a 5-player wall from Nashville
This is a hugely dangerous set piece, and the crowd know it. I can feel their nerves from here...
Messi is brought down on the edge of the box, just on the right side. McCarty is booked.
Panicco doesn't, erm, worry and catches Messi's in-swinging cross that almost loops inside the post.
The German was one vs one with Callender and from nowhere Millar slid in, just yards from goal, to steal the ball away from the forward!
The crowd has gone wild!
A GAME-SAVING INTERVENTION
WHAT A CHALLENGE FROM MILLER ON MUKHTAR
Farías can't return Messi's pass on the edge of the box and the home team see another attack break down.
Messi hits a shot from distance and MaNaughton blocks.
Inter Miami are yet to have a shot on target so far in the game...
Alba booked for screaming and shouting like a small child.
A moment of heated debate between Martino and the fourth official as Miami get a foul given against them that I must say I did not see.
Taylor, who is now playing as a central midfielder, has been booked.
A heavy touch from Shaffelburg sees Callender able to come and collect the ball in what would have been a very nervy moment for the home side.
Miami are settling into their possession game now, but Nashville look a lot more inclined to press them than in the first half.
It's Leal and Bunbury who have come off for Nashville
Wow, it's an incredibly intense start to the second half - Mukhtar has given Nashville a new dimension.
Mukhtar and Shaffelburg ON
And Mukhtar fires over the bar from close range as I type!
And we're off!
Second half underway!
Farias ON
Arroyo OFF
Half-time comments:
Great tenacity, a great attitude. But we need to show confidence and composure when we do get the ball.
A quick correction:
I have been told that Sergio Busquets was booked for touching the referee, not Jordi Alba.
Doesn't that kit look delightful....
The shirt is a result of a collaboration with the Johnny Cash Estate with the Man in Black Kit was inspired by Nashville fans The Backline Supporters Collective after they unfurled a Johhny Cash tifo in the club’s first ever MLS home game in February 2020.
Half-time report:
An incredibly solid defensive display from Nashville against a team that have scored over 20 goals in 7 games.
Messi and co. have huffed and puffed in front of goal as chipped passes and flat crosses have been thrown back at them constantly by a resilient Nashville side who have also had their chances to go ahead.
The first big moments of the game came for the away side through Leal, who forced Callender into an early save.
From then, however, it has been all Miami's ball, and the side have seen Alba get forward numerous times to attack.
Messi has had his chances to create, with the best of the lot coming from a sublime pass over the top to Taylor, who saw his shot go wide.
Apart from that, it's been foul after foul from both sides who have caused sparks to fly in various moments.
And that's all for now!
A frustrating 45 for Messi and co. as Nashville put on a defensive masterclass.
Alba was booked, but Busquets wasn't..
The first card of the game goes to Gomez for a big tackle on Bunbury as Nashville launch a counter.
And Busquets is a lucky boy not to be booked after he grabbed hold of the referee...
3 added minutes.
The referee should have given a corner as the final shot actually came off the leg of a defender. Ah well.
Messi plays a sublime pass over the top for Taylor, who makes a diagonal run. The forward takes a touch and fires a shot wide from close range.
WHAT A CHANCE FOR MIAMI
Panicco avoids pánico by catching an awkward bouncing ball inside the box.
And no, I'm not sorry for that.
Nashville have been caught offside more than any team in MLS this year...
Scratch that, the forward was offside in the buildup.
Bunbury wins a corner after Nashville break...
Busquets is penalised for a foul on Leal, who has marshalled the Nashville midfield excellently so far in what has been a very organised performance.
Nashville are completely camped in their own half, waiting for Miami to move onto them. There is practically no press from the away side, and they need Mukhtar on the pitch.
What a waste from Anunga, who wins the ball back and has the Miami defence racing back.
His pass towards Fafà is high, off target and terrible; the ball flies out of play and Fafà is not happy.
Back underway.
We have a little pause due to an injury.
Messi played in Taylor down the middle but the touch from Taylor was poor, and the ball sat up awkwardly.
That didn't stop him from smacking it, and he hit a wild shot way over the bar.
TAYLOR OVER THE BAR
A lovely ball around the corner from Busquets to Messi ends with a nutmeg from the Argentine on McCarty.
Half an hour gone and we've got no goals so far.
Miami have had almost all of the ball and some decent chances; again Nashville are standing firm.
Messi gets in behind again with a long ball over the top, but Panicco comes out to collect.
Miami see another chance go begging when Messi receives on the right side from Taylor, who is tucking inside to allow Alba all the space on the wing.
The Argentine, after feigning to shoot a few times, tries a wall pass with Martínez on the edge of the box that is cleared.
Oof... Miller let a bouncing ball run past him and luckily Callender was off his line to collect as Fafà was waiting!
Messi played a delightful ball over the top to the left back who was surging up the wing like a determined puppy.
Alba took a touch past Moore and was 1vs1 before scuffing his shot - Nashville survive!
JORDI ALBA!!
HUGE CHANCE FOR MIAMI
A big chance well defended by Maher as Busquets seems to play Messi through the lines and onto goal, but the centre-back covers well and blocks the shot.
Messi and Alba link up well down the left but the referee gives a foul against the Argentine after good positioning from MacNaughton forced Messi to foul him.
Close from Miami as Alba floats in a tasty cross towards Martínez, but the wind seems to take the ball away from the forward and Nashville defend.
He's up and looks OK, albeit a little shaken.
Arroyo went through the back of McCarty and the Nashville captain is down on the floor.
The referee had a little word with both and now we're underway again.
Messi is unhappy with Maher, and the two are now shoving each other.
Inter Miami have had 70% possession so far...
Busquets goes down, another foul given against Nashville.
However, I have to say, the Spaniard did move his head down towards the foot of Muyl, so I can see why the away side are angry.
Messi whips in from the left but nobody makes contact. Goal kick.
Another foul from Nashville, this time on Taylor.
The away side are doing a great job of frustrating Miami so far, but I wouldn't want to give Messi too many opportunities to swing in a free-kick...
Nashville turn the ball over in their own third and almost allow Alba to play a ball into the box, but Moore blocks well.
Nashville clear the in-swinging cross from Messi and defend superbly well.
Ouch. Yedlin gets taken out by Leal, who tripped him up really forcefully there. Miami free-kick on the right...
A dangerous free-kick in a central area for the home side is played short to Alba then Messi; Nashville burst out and survive.
Messi is brought down by Anunga, who looks confused after clearly pushing him over...
Inter Miami are calming the nervous crowd down with some controlled poossession; Messi has dropped incredibly deep to help out at the back.
That was close, Inter Miami need to switch on at the back...
Wow, Miami's defence opened up completely and a simple pass saw Leal in again: his curled effort was saved by Callender.
CHANCE FOR NASHVILLE!
It was a good one, as well. Leal drove into the box after the corner was half-cleared and crossed towards McCarty, whose shot flew over the bar.
CHANCE FOR NASHVILLE!
The first shot of the game goes to Muyl for Nashville, who robbed Arroyo well on the edge of the box. The shot was blocked and went well wide, however.
We're back underway...
Here's the trophy presentation!
Yedlin and Messi held Inter Miami's first ever trophy aloft for the fans to see ahead of the game.
Arroyo is dropping very deep for Miami, even deeper than Busquets, as the home side look to build out from the back.
Diego Gomez is down and holding his head.
It's something of a 4-4-1-1 from Martino, with Leo Messi just behind Martínez in the front line.
All the possession has been with the home side, so far, with Nashville waiting patiently.
Messi has started centrally in this new system from Tata...
Miami attack with Taylor, who flies a ball to the back post where Yedlin is waiting, but he can't get a foot on the pass.
Gómez wins an early foul after being sandwiched by Anunga and McCarty.
Nashville are focussing their press on Sergio Busquets, right from the off, as Miami start the game with possession of the ball.
Ready, set... and go!
Inter Miami kick us off from left to right!
A huge name in the house!
Floyd Mayweather Jr is here to jump on the Messi bandwagon. Unless, of course, he's supporting Nashville... who knows?
Ready to go!
The two teams are out on the pitch!
Nashville are in all black; Miami, all pink.
Here come Inter Miami!
The boys in pink are on the pitch as they are presented with their first ever trophy: Leagues Cup 2023!
Nashville SC injury news:
Walker Zimmerman and Sam Surridge are both out with lower body injuries, and their absences will be huge losses for Gary Smith and co.
Inter Miami prepare for the game
The Leagues Cup final is being replayed (sort of) tonight in Fort Lauderdale, as Nashville SC look to exact revenge on Inter Miami and keep them gasping for air at the bottom end of the table.
Miami are on a run of 9 consecutive wins, and it's not surprising to hear that they hadn't managed to string a run of wins together before the arrival of Leo.
In case you've just joined us...
Here's a look at the starting XIs for both sides:
Inter Miami [4-3-3]:
Callender
Yedlin - Miller - Aviles - Alba
Sergio - Gomez - Arroyo
Taylor - Martínez - Messi
***
Nashville SC [4-4-2]:
Panicco
Lovitz - MacNaughton - Maher - Moore
McCarty - Anunga - Leal - Muyl
Fafá - Bunbury
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/diarioas/XSVAOE3C45DWDCZLZGR2CFKWSU.jpg)
The Herons look like a new team since the arrival of Lionel Messi, but can they really make it to the post-season and compete for the MLS Cup?
Despite the paradigm-shifting change that Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have given Miami, the team are still 11 points from of the playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
Given their recent form meaning they have played what feels like 50 cup games, Miami have played fewer MLS matches than the teams around them, but they have just 11 games left to make up a whopping gap to the playoff spots.
Here’s all the info you need to know about how to watch the game at DRV PNK Stadium, where Nashville SC are looking for revenge over the top form of Inter Miami.
Kevin Cox / Getty Images via AFP
Since there's no Mukhtar...
Since we have no Hany Mukhtar in the Nashville XI, my focus for the away side is Fafà Picault, who's hiding behind Messi in the photo above.
The forward scored against Miami in the Leagues Cup final and his role in the front line of Gary Smith's side will be crucial to them getting anything from the game.
Fafá will need to burst behind the Miami defensive line that now has one central player less, given Tata Martino's switch from a 5-man back line to four.
It's certainly something to keep an eye on...
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/diarioas/4Z5ZVM6T3FHEEDMWX5D77T45EE.jpg)
Lionel Messi has already increased the level and profiles of his Inter Miami teammates, and some of them have been called up to the USMNT.
Gregg Berhalter has succumbed to the ‘Messi Effect’ and has put his faith in two emerging stars from Inter Miami, who continue to roll on with their amazing run of unstoppable form in every competition.
Drake Callender is one of the players who has been selected for the squad. The player was, admittedly, already on the USA radar and had been called up before, but the focus is once again back on him given the amount of positive performances since Messi’s arrival on US soil.
Another figure in focus is Benjamín Cremaschi, who has, out of nowhere, won himself a place on the plane to face Uzbekistan and Oman in the upcoming games for the USMNT.
The full story on the impact Messi has had on MLS and the USMNT
Nashville SC lineup revealed:
GK: Pannico
DEF: Lovitz - MacNoughton - Maher - Moore
MID: McCarty - Leal - Bunbury - Muyl
ATT: Anunga - Fafà
A huge cheer from the crowd!
Messi has just stepped out onto the DRV PNK Stadium pitch for the first time in almost three weeks, and what a noise!
Inter Miami lineup revealed!
It's a new formation from Tata Martino, who has gone with a back four.
GK: Callender
DEF: Alba - Miller - Aviles - Yedlin
MID: Busquets - Gómez - Arroyo
ATT: Taylor - Martínez - Messi
The home team have arrived!
Busquets was also singled out by manager Tata Martino as a starter for today's game, so let's see if there are any Messi-Busi link ups during the 90.
Nashville SC pre-game quotes:
We did a fabulous job against them in the final. There will be different dynamics and difficulties in Miami itself.
But I do think the guys will have an awful lot of confidence from what was achieved in the final.
Not just, of course, the result, but also the way the game was played out and, of course, in the end, how well we did to limit not just Lionel Messi, but the group in general, to chances
Make no mistake, it will be a very difficult test in their own backyard. We will be ready for that. There will be some added incentive after the weekend. It’s really about clarifying, focusing and preparing our minds for Miami again.
We need to get Saturday out of our heads.
It will be a tough game, we need to get ready but everyone is in high spirits.
The Nashville squad have arrived!
Smiles all round as they look for revenge after that heartbreaking Leagues Cup final defeat on penalties, the cruellest way to go.
Hector Vivas / Getty Images via AFP
Who's the referee?
Chris Penso (1982) has the honour of overseeing this huge clash between two top teams. He has been a referee in MLS since 2011 and was added to FIFA’s VAR referee list in 2021.
Curiously, his wife Tori is also a referee in MLS, and was also the referee of the 2023 Women’s World Cup final between Spain and England.
Inter Miami's new 'freedom park' announced
Inter Miami added around 3,000 new seats to their DRV PNK Stadium when the news broke that Lionel Messi had signed for the club.
Now, however, they are moving onto bigger and better things, and the announcement of the Miami Freedom Park shows clearly that they are moving in the right direction, along with the entire MLS.
In fact, construction is already underway and the club expect it to be finished in 2025.
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/diarioas/KH64GTH54DYX3ZBDQD5RIQZY3Y.jpg)
A big story that has come out today is that Lionel Messi has avoided a potential punishment for not following MLS Media duty rules.
The Argentine failed to make himself available for a post-match press conference after scoring in Inter Miami’s 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls, but the cause behind the missing Magician has been put down to a 'misunderstanding', and Messi won't be punished.
The stadium is set!
The DRV PNK Stadium is prepped for tonight's clash between two MLS heavyweights!
Steve Roberts / USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Who to watch (who's not Messi)
The creative German has 13 goals and 8 assists to his name so far this season, putting him firmly in contention for player of the year.
The 28-year-old has played for Nashville SC since 2020 and every season since his debut, Mukhtar has been in contention to be called the greatest player in the league, although something tells me this season he’s going to have his work cut out.
The big news, as you've probably heard, has nothing to do with Lionel Messi. Instead, it's something we believe even he can't control: the weather.
Hurricane Idalia is twisting, turning and clambering across Florida, which has put the game at risk, meaning Inter Miami's search for MLS points on the board might be in danger.
I said Messi can't control the weather, but in truth, I don't know that for certain. Anyway, here's the latest update on the course of the hurricane that's ripping up Florida and wether or not it's set to affect proceedings at the DRV PNK Stadium today.
Cheeky Nashville!
Those cheeky devils behind the Nashville SC Twitter account have had a sly pop and a good chuckle at Inter Miami's actualy location, just like Piqué and the not-Barcelona based Espanyol.
Getty Images
Nashville's most recent game:
Nashville’s last game was a real let’s-not-talk-about-this-again moment, as they lost 0-4 to Atlanta away from home.
They will be looking to seal up those defensive gaps against an Inter Miami side that have only scored less than two goals in two of their last nine games.
Luckily, perhaps, one of those was against Nashville.
Nashville have played 25 games so far this season, winning 11, drawing 5 and losing 9, giving them a total of 38 points and putting them in 11th position in the table.
Nashville SC team news:
As if facing Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets wasn’t enough, it now looks like Nashville SC are facing two huge injury doubts.
Walker Zimmerman could well be out with a lower body injury, while striker Sam Surridge is also a doubt after suffering a similar injury.
Inter Miami team news:
Are we bothered about my spreadsheet of injured players and suspensions across all the top leagues? Well, if you’re not, the big news is that Lionel Messi is set to start, so says Tata Martino.
My personal theory is that the ex-Barça boss might be bluffing, but that’s tin foil hat territory.
Welcome!
Hello and welcome to the AS USA live coverage of the ferociously interesting MLS game we’ve got coming up: Inter Miami vs Nashville SC!
It’s Joe here today to be your guide through every kick of the ball as the US domestic campaign gets its wheels rolling once again with a rematch of the Leagues Cup final!