By Erwin Quiñonez
07 Mar 2024, 11:35 PM EST
Inter Miami used the individuality of Leo Messi and Luis Suárez to achieve an agonizing 2-2 draw in the final minutes of the match against Nashville, corresponding to the first leg of the round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
The Florida team wanted to go out and control the ball from the first minute, something they achieved but without combining it with the expected effectiveness. The local team knew how to take advantage of this, and in just 4 minutes they took advantage of their first great opportunity to open the scoring. at the feet of Jaco Shaffelburg.
The visitors seemed not to feel the pressure of being down on the scoreboard and continued to exert control of the ball with constant attacks, but with the same ineffectiveness of the beginning, something that they ended up suffering at the beginning of the second half because at minute 47 Shaffelburg appeared to score his second goal.
When everything seemed to indicate that Inter Miami would collapse, the Argentine star appeared in the 52nd minute to take advantage of a ball he received on the edge of the area and hit it with his left foot towards the goalkeeper’s right post, scoring a goal identical to the many that scored throughout his career.
Things did not change much after the ‘Rosa’ team’s discount, since they continued to keep the ball most of the time, but with a Nashveille that knew how to press and cause errors that helped them go on the attack, something that was reflected in the 85′ when they scored their third goal through Shaq Moore, but it was annulled by the VAR due to offside.
The team led by Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino used the individuality of its stars to achieve the tie thanks to Sergio Busquets taking advantage of a ball he received in the area and sending a slight cross that connected with Luis Suárez, who managed to score with a header and keep your team alive for the second leg game that will be played next week.
Scared by a blow to Messi
The match also featured some drama when, in the 78th minute, Leo Messi received a hard blow to his right leg from Lukas MacNaughton, which left him lying on the grass for a few minutes. Fortunately, it did not get worse and the Argentine got up to continue in action, although the aggressor was not sanctioned.
Inter Miami and Nashville will meet again next Wednesday, March 13, for the second leg in which the winner will earn their ticket to the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
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