Coming into Wednesday, Nashville SC may declare relative success towards Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami. By means of three video games towards the Herons since they signed arguably the best soccer participant of all time, Nashville had but to lose in 90 minutes.
That streak is now over — and so is Nashville’s maiden voyage within the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Inter Miami knocked Nashville out of its first intercontinental competitors with a dominating, 3-1 victory at Chase Stadium within the second leg of the groups’ spherical of 16 collection. Miami superior to the quarterfinals, successful the collection 5-3 on combination after a 2-2 attract final Thursday’s first leg in Nashville.
Messi assisted his onetime Barcelona teammate, Luis Suarez, within the eighth minute, and Messi later scored his third aim in 4 video games towards Nashville. Suarez’s inch-perfect move to Robert Taylor within the 63rd minute made the ultimate half-hour roughly a formality, however a stoppage-time aim by Sam Surridge.
As soon as once more, Nashville’s quest for its first-ever trophy got here to an finish by the hands of Inter Miami. In final season’s U.S. Open Cup spherical of 16, the Herons defeated Nashville 2-1. Three months later, Messi gained his first trophy as an American-based participant with a victory within the Leagues Cup last at Geodis Park.
Nashville falls into early two-goal gap
Nashville is not used to enjoying from a number of objectives down. Messi’s Twenty third-minute aim marked the primary time it confronted a two-goal deficit since August 26, 2023, in a 4-0 loss to Atlanta United.
It’s a must to return even additional to seek out the final time Nashville gave up two or extra objectives within the first half — to a 4-3 loss to Toluca the Leagues Cup group stage a month earlier.
As for trailing by a number of objectives within the first half, Nashville hadn’t performed that since a 2-1 loss at New York Metropolis FC final April. That was 37 aggressive matches in the past.
“(Inter Miami) began very, very brightly, and with all honesty, we had been unable to include them the primary quarter-hour,” mentioned Nashville coach Gary Smith. “That gained them the sport.”
Nashville struggles to include Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez
With Walker Zimmerman lacking his second consecutive recreation after he suffered a knee damage within the first leg, Smith made changes to the again line. Dan Lovitz, a left again by commerce, changed middle again Jack Maher within the beginning lineup and paired with Lukas MacNaughton whereas Taylor Washington and Shaq Moore began at fullback.
“I felt as if one change, one inversion on that left-hand facet would possibly provide the fellows the absolute best perspective,” Smith mentioned. “Sadly, it wasn’t to be.”
Whereas Lovitz rang the crossbar with a volley in direction of the top of the primary half, Nashville’s group was sloppy within the buildup to Inter Miami’s three objectives. Smith thought not having Zimmerman’s stabilizing presence had one thing to do with it.
“There are lots of guys that lean on Walker,” Smith mentioned. “Tonight, the opening exchanges via the center of our again line appeared very unsure, and the world-class stars that Miami has took benefit of it.”
Zimmerman underwent what Smith known as a “non-invasive” process on his knee on Tuesday. Smith mentioned the US worldwide might be out for 3 to 4 weeks however continues to be hopeful that his damage is “nothing severe.”
Sam Surridge makes influence after halftime substitution
After Messi made it 2-0, Inter Miami performed extra conservatively, showing glad to let Nashville management the ball in broad areas whereas refusing to give up the center of the sector.
For essentially the most half, Gerardo Martino’s techniques had been profitable as Smith fielded a beginning 11 with no true goal ahead. Nashville had little else to supply moreover crosses, and Miami gained most aerial duels within the first half.
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That modified barely when Surridge entered the sport after halftime, enjoying in simply his second recreation since he harm his shoulder within the CCC opener at Moca FC on Feb. 22. The 6-foot-3 Surridge gave Nashville a way more viable choice to purpose for within the penalty field.
Surridge took three photographs in his half of play and tapped residence a cross from Moore within the 93rd minute. The aim was Surridge’s seventh in 18 matches with Nashville.
Jacob Shames will be reached by e mail at jshames@gannett.com and on Twitter @Jacob_Shames.