Inter Miami 4-0 Nashville SC: Messi stars again to seal playoff progression

Messi and Allende each scored two goals and provided one assist, helping Inter Miami CF defeat Nashville SC in a resounding victory.

Match Report

Lionel Messi took centre stage as Inter Miami hammered Nashville SC 4-0 to book their place in the next round of the MLS playoffs.

For the first time in club history, Miami, who were without the suspended Luis Suarez, will feature in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, and they had star man Messi to thank on Saturday.

Messi netted twice in the first half before playing a part in both of Tadeo Allende's second-half goals at Chase Stadium, as Miami won the best-of-three series 3-1.

The Argentine opened the scoring in the 10th minute, driving forward from deep before drilling a finish into the bottom-right corner.

Mateo Silvetti then teed up Messi's second before half-time, before the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner combined with Jordi Alba to set up a close-range finish for Allende in the 73rd minute.

Allende added further gloss three minutes later, deftly chipping Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis after racing onto Messi's throughball, with Miami now set to take on FC Cincinnati in the next round.

Data Debrief: Nashville fall to Messi again 

Messi has now scored 15 goals across all competitions against Nashville, which is eight more than he has managed against any other MLS club.

Nashville are one of 18 clubs that Messi has plundered at least 15 goals against across his career.

Messi was the driving force for Miami, leading the Herons for shots (four), shots on target (three), final third entries (11) and chances created (three).

While Nashville matched Miami for shots (11), the hosts' 2.12 expected goals to the visitors' 0.48 shows a gulf in class when it comes to the quality of the opportunities created.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

3' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Nashville SC

11' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 1-0 Nashville SC (Lionel Messi)

19' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Nashville SC

32' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Nashville SC

38' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Nashville SC

39' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 2-0 Nashville SC (Lionel Messi)

46' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Nashville SC

46' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Nashville SC

53' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Nashville SC

59' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Nashville SC

63' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Nashville SC

67' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Nashville SC

73' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 3-0 Nashville SC (Tadeo Allende)

76' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 4-0 Nashville SC (Tadeo Allende)

Line-ups

Inter Miami CF XI: Messi, Alba, Busquets, De Paul, Maximiliano Falcón, Rocco Ríos Novo, Tadeo Allende, Ian Fray, Noah Allen, Baltasar Rodríguez, Mateo Silvetti

Subs: Óscar Ustari, Fafà Picault, Marcelo Weigandt, Telasco Segovia, Gonzalo Luján, Allen Obando, Tomás Avilés, Santiago Morales, Yannick Bright

Nashville SC XI: Andy Nájar, Joe Willis, Hany Mukhtar, Walker Zimmerman, Alex Muyl, Sam Surridge, Jack Maher, Edvard Tagseth, Patrick Yazbek, Josh Bauer, Matthew Corcoran

Subs: Gastón Brugman, Teal Bunbury, Tyler Boyd, Bryan Acosta, Daniel Lovitz, Tate Schmitt, Jacob Shaffelburg, Brian Schwake, Wyatt Meyer