The result leaves Inter Miami trailing Nashville by nine points in the race for top seeding in the Eastern Conference, with only nine regular-season matches remaining. While Miami looked poised to secure a significant victory, the visitors remained resilient throughout the contest at Nu Stadium.
Messi’s Impact and Nashville’s Late Response
Nashville opened the scoring early, with Surridge beating the offside trap in the fourth minute to slot a low finish into the bottom corner. Miami found their way back into the match midway through the first half when a dangerous in-swinging corner from Messi forced Nashville defender Reed Baker-Whiting to inadvertently head the ball into his own net, leveling the score.
After the interval, Messi appeared to have secured the win for the hosts. Linking up with former Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul just outside the penalty area, the forward curled a precise effort beyond goalkeeper Brian Schwake to give Miami a 2-1 lead. It marked his 17th goal in 14 appearances against Nashville since joining the club in 2023.
Missed Opportunities and Final Standings
Miami had several chances to extend their lead and put the game beyond reach. Messi was denied by the woodwork twice, hitting the underside of the crossbar in the 50th minute and striking the post in the 78th. Late in the match, Nashville defender Jeisson Palacios also intervened, heading a dangerous effort clear to keep his side in contention.
The missed opportunities proved costly when Surridge struck from close range during injury time to secure a draw for the visitors. The result denies Miami a crucial win in their pursuit of the top spot, keeping the gap between the two sides at nine points as the regular season approaches its final stretch.
