Messi scores but Nashville denies Miami with late equalizer — SkimNews
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- Lionel Messi scored in the 62nd minute — his MLS-leading 19th goal of the season — exchanging passes with Rodrigo De Paul before finishing from 20 yards, but Nashville's Sam Surridge equalized in the first minute of stoppage time to complete a 2-2 draw.
- Sam Surridge bookended Nashville's scoring, putting the visitors ahead after just four minutes before firing home the late equalizer, while Miami's first goal came from an own goal off defender Reed Baker-Whiting in the 19th minute under pressure from a Messi corner.
- Nashville SC maintained its nine-point lead atop the Eastern Conference and now sits in prime position to claim its first Supporters' Shield with nine games remaining in the season.
- Inter Miami has dropped 11 points from winning positions at home in MLS this season — second only to New York City FC and CF Montréal — a pattern that Saturday's late collapse extended.
- Messi came close to his 100th goal for Inter Miami in all competitions but was denied twice in the second half by a Brian Schwake save onto the post and a last-ditch headed clearance from Jeisson Palacios.
- Miami is still waiting for Cristian "Kily" González to formally take over as head coach and has won just once in its past nine matches across all competitions, while Nashville remains unbeaten in four meetings with Miami this season.
Why it matters: With nine games left, Nashville's nine-point Eastern Conference cushion means the Supporters' Shield is firmly in their grasp, while Miami's 11 points dropped from winning home positions this season points to a late-game execution problem that no coaching change can instantly fix.
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