Nashville SC 2-5 Inter Miami: Messi scores a hat-trick in 7-goal thriller

Game is over and the final score is Nashville SC 2-5 Inter Miami CF. Here is the match report.

Match Report

Lionel Messi stole the show once again as his hat-trick propelled Inter Miami to a 5-2 victory over Nashville SC on Decision Day.

Both Miami and Nashville were sure of their places in the MLS playoffs before Saturday's match at GEODIS Park.

But eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi did not let up as he scored three times and provided an assist to send Miami into the postseason in style.

Having curled in the opener from the edge of the box, Messi saw Miami go behind by half-time as Sam Surridge and Jacob Shaffelburg hit back for Nashville.

Yet a handball from Andy Najar gifted Miami a penalty, which Messi converted in the 63rd minute to spark a stunning comeback.

Baltasar Rodríguez put Miami ahead four minutes later, nudging in on the follow-up after Luis Suarez, who was played in by Messi, had been denied by Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis.

Messi completed his hat-trick with another fine left-footed finish in the 81st minute, before calmly teeing up Telasco Segovia in stoppage time as Miami secured third place, meaning they will again face Nashville in a best-of-three series in the first round of the playoffs.

Data Debrief: Another award for Messi

Messi is the first player in MLS history to finish a regular season with at least 18 goals and 18 assists.

He rounded out on 29 goals and 19 assists, securing the Golden Boot ahead of Surridge and Denis Bouanga (24 goals each).

The 38-year-old had a whopping seven shots on Saturday, with four of those hitting the target, while also creating five chances, and he seems a shoo-in to be named MLS MVP, which would make him the competition's first back-to-back winner of that award.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

8' Highlight from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami CF

17' Highlight from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami CF

20' Match Event for Nashville SC vs Inter Miami CF

21' Highlight from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami CF

22' Match Event for Nashville SC vs Inter Miami CF

31' Highlight from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami CF

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

40' Match Event for Nashville SC vs Inter Miami CF

43' GOAL! Nashville SC 1-1 Inter Miami CF (Sam Surridge)

47' Highlight from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami CF

51' GOAL! Nashville SC 2-1 Inter Miami CF (Jacob Shaffelburg)

56' Match Event for Nashville SC vs Inter Miami CF

63' Penalty Goal! Nashville SC 2-2 Inter Miami CF (Lionel Messi)

67' GOAL! Nashville SC 2-3 Inter Miami CF (Baltasar Rodríguez)

72' Highlight from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami CF

81' GOAL! Nashville SC 2-4 Inter Miami CF (Lionel Messi)

Line-ups

Nashville SC XI: Andy Nájar, Joe Willis, Hany Mukhtar, Walker Zimmerman, Alex Muyl, Daniel Lovitz, Sam Surridge, Jack Maher, Edvard Tagseth, Jacob Shaffelburg, Patrick Yazbek

Subs: Gastón Brugman, Teal Bunbury, Tyler Boyd, Bryan Acosta, Jeison Palacios, Tate Schmitt, Brian Schwake, Josh Bauer, jordan knight

Inter Miami CF XI: Messi, Suarez, Alba, Busquets, De Paul, Maximiliano Falcón, Marcelo Weigandt, Rocco Ríos Novo, Tadeo Allende, Gonzalo Luján, Baltasar Rodríguez

Subs: Óscar Ustari, William Yarbrough, Fafà Picault, Telasco Segovia, Ian Fray, Noah Allen, Ryan Sailor, Tomás Avilés, Yannick Bright