Fort Lauderdale, FL – Inter Miami CF secured a historic victory on Saturday night, defeating Nashville SC 4-0 in the decisive Game 3 of the MLS Cup Playoffs first-round series. The resounding win, anchored by a sublime performance from captain Lionel Messi, marks the first time the Florida club has ever advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The contest, a winner-take-all conclusion to the best-of-three series, saw Inter Miami deliver a dominant offensive display, with their superstar involved in every goal. Messi opened the scoring in the 10th minute, capitalizing on a defensive turnover to slot the ball past the keeper. He doubled the lead just before halftime in the 39th minute, tapping into an open net after intelligent link-up play from Mateo Silvetti and Jordi Alba broke down the Nashville defense.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner wasn’t finished, turning provider in the second half. He first set up midfielder Tadeo Allende, who scored a brace with goals in the 73rd and 76th minutes, effectively putting the game out of reach for the visiting side. Messi’s influence throughout the series was total; he registered five goals and three assists across the three games, contributing to all eight of Inter Miami’s goals in the round.
While Nashville fought hard to force the decisive game, their defensive lapses proved costly against the ruthless attack of the Herons. Despite the absence of the suspended Luis Suarez, Inter Miami’s collective performance was praised by Coach Javier Mascherano as “a near-perfect game.”
Inter Miami now moves forward into the Eastern Conference Semifinal, where the competition shifts to a high-stakes, single-elimination format. They will travel to face FC Cincinnati—the second seed—on either November 22 or 23, in what promises to be a much tougher challenge as they continue their pursuit of the MLS Cup title.
