Messi nets goal yet Inter Miami fall to Nashville in MLS Cup playoff tie
A late strike from Lionel Messi in the 89th minute proved insufficient as Nashville SC secured a 2-1 victory over Inter Miami on Saturday, ensuring the MLS Cup first round playoff series remains in balance.
Goals during the opening period from Sam Surridge and Josh Bauer established Nashville's dominance at a damp Geodis Park in Tennessee.
Surridge opened the scoring by converting a penalty kick in the ninth minute, directing the ball to the right past Inter Miami's custodian Rocco Rios Novo.
The penalty was granted to Nashville following Rios Novo's delay in advancing from his goal line against an advancing Surridge.
Just before the interval, Bauer extended the lead to 2-0 with a left footed slide in, following a corner delivered by Hany Mukhtar.
Inter Miami began the second half with renewed vigour, though Luis Suarez's effort from close range in the 66th minute was deflected away by Nashville's goalkeeper Joe Willis.
In the closing stages, Inter Miami and Messi increased their intensity.
Rodrigo De Paul delivered the ball to Messi inside the penalty area in the 89th minute, allowing the recent MLS Golden Boot recipient to deceive his marker and unleash a left footed drive into the upper right corner of the net.
Inter Miami had taken command of the series after a 3-1 triumph in the opening match, powered by Messi's two goals, yet now they must accommodate a pivotal third encounter at home.
This outcome echoes the previous season, when Inter Miami entered the playoffs with the league's top regular season record and triumphed in their initial clash against Atlanta United, only for Atlanta to claim the subsequent pair of games and eliminate them.
Philadelphia advance
Philadelphia Union, the Eastern Conference leaders and recipients of the Supporters Shield for the finest league record, progressed with a convincing 3-0 win against Chicago Fire.
Tai Baribo netted twice with precise strikes in the eighth and 16th minutes, while Bruno Damiani contributed another in the 35th.
Philadelphia's shot stopper Andre Blake denied a penalty from Brian Gutierrez during the first half and faced few further threats.
Having overcome Chicago via a penalty shootout following a 2-2 stalemate in the first match, Philadelphia will encounter either Charlotte FC or New York City FC in a single leg Eastern Conference semi final.
Charlotte compelled a third game versus NYCFC through a penalty shootout success after a 0-0 draw at Yankee Stadium.
In the Western Conference, Vancouver Whitecaps moved forward with a thrilling success against FC Dallas, prevailing in a penalty shootout after Ralph Priso equalised at 1-1 during added time in the second half.
A corner from Sebastian Berhalter reached Thomas Muller, who directed it towards Priso. Priso's initial attempt was blocked, but he converted the follow up.
Vancouver had claimed the series opener 3-0, but trailed early here with Peter Musa scoring for Dallas in the 25th minute.
Muller, Berhalter, Kenji Cabrera, and Belal Halbouni succeeded in the shootout, positioning Vancouver to welcome either Los Angeles FC or Austin FC for a Western Conference semi final.
The Portland Timbers necessitated a deciding third match against Western Conference frontrunners San Diego, triumphing in a shootout after a 2-2 deadlock.