MIAMI CRUISES PAST NASHVILLE IN CHAMPIONS CUP

INTER MIAMI

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Messi magic led Inter Miami to a 3-1 rout of Nashville SC Wednesday at Chase Stadium.

Miami advances to the next round of CONCACAF Champions Cup on a 5-3 aggregate. 

An effortless Lionel Messi assist to Luis Suarez in the 8’ opened scoring for the Herons, with Messi tacking on a shot of his own in the 23’ between two defenders on a broken play. 

Miami maintained control for much of the match, barely letting Nashville penetrate the defense in their third. A second half 63’ header by Robert Taylor off a Suarez cross finished scoring for Miami. 

Nashville was quiet tonight save for a disallowed goal on an offsides put-back by Hany Mukhtar.

It wasn’t until 90+3’ that a Sam Surridge goal finally broke Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender’s clean sheet. 

The first game featured late-game heroics from Luis Suarez to head to Miami on a tied 2-2 aggregate before this game blew it open for Miami. 

Manager Tata Martino has much to be happy with tonight, but the sluggish play of Messi may worry fans hoping his injury report from last weekend was a fluke. Heavy legs or something more, only time will tell. The rest of the team, though, performed fine tonight after he came off in the 50’. 

Inter Miami resumes regular season play Saturday at D.C. United. CONCACAF Champions Cup continues April 2-4.