Messi Misses Penalty As Nashville Thrash Inter Miami 4-1

Lionel Messi endured another frustrating night from the penalty spot as Inter Miami suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat away to Nashville SC in a top-of-the-table Major League Soccer clash.

Messi had a penalty saved by Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake in the 23rd minute before receiving a yellow card in the second half.

The Argentina captain did, however, provide the assist for Inter Miami’s equaliser and struck both posts in stoppage time as Nashville completed a convincing victory.

Nashville took the lead in the 17th minute when Honduran defender Andy Najar headed home.

Messi was handed the opportunity to level from the penalty spot six minutes later, but Schwake comfortably saved his effort.

Inter Miami eventually drew level three minutes into first-half stoppage time when Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia fired home from Messi’s assist.

Nashville regained the lead four minutes after the restart through Hany Mukhtar, the 2022 MLS Most Valuable Player.

England striker Sam Surridge extended the hosts’ advantage before Mukhtar added his second in the 63rd minute to complete the rout.

The defeat ended Inter Miami’s seven-match unbeaten run in MLS and inflicted another setback against Nashville, who had also eliminated them from this season’s CONCACAF Champions Cup in the round of 16.

Nashville remain top of the MLS standings with 43 points from 19 matches, while Inter Miami are second on 38 points.