FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have a 3-0 lead after the first half, and a 5-2 lead in aggregate against Nashville SC in the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup matchup tonight.
But Messi’s night is already over.
Five minutes into the second half, Messi has come off the pitch after a surprise substitute.
Messi had a goal and an assist as he and Luis Suárez found the back of the net for Inter Miami in the first half.
The winner advances to the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup. Inter Miami and Nashville SC played to a 2-2 draw in the first leg last week.
USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates from tonight’s Inter Miami-Nashville SC Concacaf Champions Cup match.
Robert Taylor rose in the air, and delivered a beauty of a header to give Inter Miami a 3-0 lead over Nashville on Wednesday night.
Taylor received the ball from Luis Suárez, who also scored earlier in the match.
Inter Miami has a 5-2 lead in aggregate, and easing any concern why Lionel Messi was pulled early in the second half.
Lionel Messi subs out in 50th minute: Inter Miami 2, Nashville 0
Lionel Messi is coming off the pitch, leaving the game after being substituted in the 50th minute – just five minutes after the second half began.
It’s unclear why Messi has left early, perhaps a precaution with a match Saturday against D.C. United and two matches with Argentina later this month.
But the window as opened for Nashville to jump back into this game.
Lionel Messi thought he got fouled, but didn’t give up on the play.
Diego Gomez penetrated and dished to Messi, who did the rest with his legendary left boot in the 23rd minute.
Messi found the back of the net, and Inter Miami takes a 2-0 lead against Nashville, and has a 4-2 lead in the aggregate.
Inter Miami is on the board, and Lionel Messi’s impact has already been felt.
Messi found close friend Luis Suárez open for a breakaway goal in the 8th minute of the match.
The score came right after Messi’s first shot on goal was too high. But Inter Miami has an early lead over Nashville, and a 3-2 lead in the aggregate.
Messi broke away with a head of steam in the fourth minute, and was fouled as he approached the penalty area.
But Messi’s free kick collided into a wall of defenders.
It was a moment where Messi’s acceleration was on prime display, but an early opportunity Inter Miami could not convert.
The Inter Miami vs. Nashville match kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET on FS2 in English and TUDN in Spanish.
WATCH: Messi and Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup on Fubo
TICKETS: See Messi and Inter Miami in person vs. Nashville SC
SHOP: Get the latest Messi and Inter Miami gear from the MLS Store
Lionel Messi, as well as his former FC Barcelona teammates Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, are in the starting lineup for Inter Miami. Alba started Sunday’s game, while Busquets and Suárez came on as second-half substitutes.
For Nashville SC, Taylor Washington starts in place of two-time MLS Defender of the Year Walker Zimmerman, who suffered a knee injury in last week’s Concacaf Champions Cup game vs. Inter Miami.
All smiles from Messi and he walked into Chase Stadium for tonight’s match.
Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter, USA TODAY:
Inter Miami 3, Nashville 2: Messi and Luis Suárez need to lead the way again for Inter Miami, but they won’t trail from the jump like the first leg. Still, Nashville will be persistent and test Miami like they have in three previous matchups.
Jacob Shames, Nashville SC beat writer, The Tennessean:
Nashville 2, Inter Miami 1: Why not? Messi or no Messi, Nashville has done a better job defending him than most MLS teams have done, and is starting to get its own attack healthy and rolling.
Nashville will face Messi for the fourth time — the most of any opponent since he joined Inter Miami and MLS.
Nashville coach Gary Smith has praised Messi each time, and said Tuesday defending Messi a “never-ending conundrum.”
“You try to set up a group to try and limit what he’s able to do. He’s proved throughout his career, at the very best levels,” Smith said. “No matter how good you are defensively or how organized you are, the caliber of the individual will always find a way.”
What happened in the first matchup? Messi scored a goal in the 52nd minute, while Luis Suárez’s header in the fifth minute of extra time helped Inter Miami storm back to finish a 2-2 draw against Nashville in the first leg last Thursday. Nashville’s Jacob Shaffelburg scored twice in the opening minutes of each half to give his side a 2-0 lead.
Inter Miami needs an outright win, or a 0-0 draw or 1-1 draw to advance.
Nashville needs an outright win, or a draw with the score of at least 3 goals to advance.
If the aggregate score, or the results of both matches added together remains tied, away goals will work as the first tiebreaker.
If Inter Miami and Nashville play to another 2-2 draw Wednesday, they will play extra time. If the score remains tied, it will be decided by penalty kicks.
The Inter Miami-Nashville winner will face either LIGA MX side C.F. Monterrey or MLS side FC Cincinnati, the 2023 Supporters’ Shield winners.
Monterrey has a 1-0 lead in the aggregate, and hosts Cincinnati in the second leg on Thursday night in Mexico.
The quarterfinals for the Concacaf Champions Cup will be held April 2-11.
Messi will likely play his final match of the month with Inter Miami on Saturday, before joining Argentina for two Copa America warmups later this month.
Inter Miami visits D.C. United on Saturday. Then, Messi will join Argentina for a match against El Salvador in Philadelphia on March 22, and Costa Rica in Los Angeles on March 26.
Messi could miss two Inter Miami games: Inter Miami vs. New York Red Bulls on March 23 and Inter Miami vs. New York City FC on March 30 for rest purposes.
Sarah Wilson is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
