Nashville, Tenn. (March 7, 2024) – Inter Miami CF scored a dramatic equalizer tonight to secure a valuable 2-2 draw on the road in a tightly contested game against Nashville SC in the Club’s debut in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Captain Lionel Messi and striker Luis Suárez scored the team’s goals on the night at GEODIS Park in the first leg of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 series against Nashville.
The result presents Inter Miami with favorable conditions after scoring two goals on the road ahead of the second leg of the series in South Florida at Chase Stadium next Wednesday, March 13. If the aggregate score after the two matches remains tied, away goals will work as the tiebreaker. Tickets for the second leg fixture are available HERE.
“Knowing that we have 90 more minutes to play at home, I think that we did well. We were calm, we were patient, and we did it simply by playing. It leaves us in a good place for the second round of 90 minutes left to play at home,“ said head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino.
Inter Miami took the field for the Club’s Concacaf Champions Cup debut with Drake Callender in goal; Julian Gressel, Tomás Avilés, Sergii Kryvtsov, Nicolás Freire and Noah Allen in a backline of five; Diego Gómez, Sergio Busquets and Federico Redondo started in midfield; Messi and Suárez led the team in attack.
Notably, the Club’s most recent signing, midfielder Redondo, made his debut today as part of Inter Miami’s starting XI.
The match saw the hosts open the scoring early on, with winger Jacob Shaffelburg giving Nashville SC an early 1-0 lead in the fourth minute.
The remainder of the first 45 minutes presented a close matchup with both sides probing the opposition’s defense in search of creating opportunities in attack. Inter Miami’s most dangerous opportunities came from an attempt from Messi inside the box that was blocked by the keeper in the 37th minute.
The second half kicked off in similar fashion, with Nashville extending their lead through Shaffelburg’s second goal of the match in the 46th minute.
Inter Miami would then cut into the hosts’ lead shortly after; with Messi capitalizing on an Suárez assist after a good combination of passes with Gómez in the 52nd minute. The Argentine star received the ball on the edge of the box before taking a touch and sending the ball to the back of the net with a left-footed curler. The goal was Messi’s first in the competition and his fourth overall this season, while the assist was also the first for Suárez in the Champions Cup and his fourth of the campaign.
Following the goal, the constant attacking threat throughout the remaining minutes of the match eventually paid off for the visitors, with Inter Miami securing a late equalizer through Suárez in the fifth minute of added time. A well-orchestrated team play on the right side of the box culminated with Busquets serving a ball for Suárez inside the box for the Uruguayan marksman to score with a header and tie the game in dramatic style. The goal was the first for Suárez in the competition and took his tally for the season to three, while the assist was Busquets’ first in 2024.
The 2-2 scoreline then held throughout the final moments for Inter Miami to earn a valuable draw on the road in the team’s debut in the Concacaf Champions Cup in the first leg of the Round of 16.
Up next, Inter Miami will resume MLS regular season action back in South Florida this Sunday, March, 10 when it hosts CF Montréal at 4 p.m. ET at Chase Stadium. Tickets for Sunday’s game are available HERE.
Scoring Summary:
NSH – Jacob Shaffelburg (Shaq Moore) 4’, Jacob Shaffelburg (Sean Davis) 47’
MIA – Lionel Messi (Luis Suárez) 52’, Luis Suárez (Sergio Busquets) 90’ + 5’
Misconduct Summary:
MIA – Federico Redondo (Yellow Card 26’)
Lineups / Substitutions:
Nashville SC – GK Joe Willis; D Daniel Lovitz (Taylor Washington 74’), Walker Zimmerman (Jack Maher 82’), Shaq Moore, Lukas MacNaughton; M Sean Davis, Aníbal Godoy (Dru Yearwood 75’), Hany Mukhtar (Teal Bunbury 82’), Alex Muyl, Jacob Shaffelburg (McKinze Gaines 82’); F Tyler Boyd
Unused Substitutes – GK Elliot Pánico; D Joshua Bauer, Brent Kallman; M Tah Anunga, Amar Sejdić, ; F Forster Ajago
Inter Miami CF – GK Drake Callender; D Julian Gressel (David Ruiz 80’), Tomás Avilés, Sergii Kryvtsov, Nicolás Freire, Noah Allen; M Diego Gómez, Sergio Busquets, Federico Redondo (Lawson Sunderland 90’ + 2’); F Lionel Messi ©, Luis Suárez
Unused Substitutes – GK CJ dos Santos, Cole Jensen; D Israel Boatwright, Ryan Sailor; M Robert Taylor; F Shanyder Borgelin
Details of the Game:
Date: March 7, 2024
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Stadium: GEODIS Park
Stats:
Possession:
NSH – 30%
MIA – 70%
Shots:
NSH – 6
MIA – 13
Saves:
NSH – 4
MIA – 1
Corners:
NSH – 2
MIA – 6
Fouls:
NSH – 3
MIA – 9
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