Sam Surridge had other ideas. Lionel Messi had just put Inter Miami 2-1 ahead at Nu Stadium, and the hosts were 28 minutes from three points, but Surridge collected the ball in the 90th minute and equalized to snatch a draw that Miami will feel they let slip. According to the New York Times, Messi’s 62nd-minute strike was his 99th club goal for Inter Miami, a milestone that ultimately counted for nothing. Nashville, who came from behind twice on the night, leave South Florida level at 2-2 and hold their place at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Key Moments
- 4′, Nashville strike early. Surridge opens the scoring, converting an assist from Najar to give the visitors a quick lead at Nu Stadium.
- 19′, Inter Miami level through an own goal. Baker-Whiting turns the ball into his own net, restoring parity for the hosts.
- 62′, Messi puts Miami ahead. Messi finishes a move built by R. De Paul to make it 2-1, his 99th club goal for the club according to the New York Times.
- 90′, Surridge strikes again. Surridge completes his brace in stoppage time, earning Nashville a point they barely looked like getting with 30 minutes to play.
Tactical Breakdown
Inter Miami dominated the ball throughout, finishing with 62% possession and 550 passes to Nashville’s 322. Coach Kily Gonzalez’s 4-3-3 controlled the tempo in the second half, and R. De Paul was the creative engine behind it, linking play between a disciplined midfield three and the attacking line. Miami had 14 total shots, five on target, and the xG picture suggested they deserved to hold their lead.
The turning point was less a formation change and more a failure to manage the game’s final moments. Miami had been relatively comfortable after Messi’s 62nd-minute goal. Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan responded by making three substitutions in the 72nd and 81st minutes, injecting Edvard Sandvik Tagseth and Bryan Acosta into central areas. The visitors finished with 18 shots, 11 inside the box, and kept pushing even when the scoreboard was against them. It was Surridge, who had stayed up the pitch throughout, who found the finish.
For Nashville, the defensive shape wobbled. Baker-Whiting’s own goal in the 19th minute leveled things just when the visitors had controlled the opening quarter, and his substitution at 72 minutes came shortly after. The visitors were outpassed by a wide margin and conceded the initiative for large stretches, but their forward line’s persistence, particularly Surridge, made the difference. Miami, meanwhile, picked up three yellow cards and appeared to lose concentration as the match wore on, with Galarza booked for time-wasting in the 90th minute.
Player Ratings
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Verdict
Nashville stay top of the Eastern Conference with 54 points, nine ahead of Inter Miami in second. Miami’s third draw in their last four games will frustrate Kily Gonzalez, particularly given they led for the better part of 30 minutes with a Messi goal as the platform. The gap between the top two remains sizeable, but Miami’s inability to close out games is becoming a pattern worth watching.