Finally, Lionel Messi had a bad night – by his standards – as Inter Miami CF drew with Nashville 0-0 at DRV PNK Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Argentine star has played nine games for Miami since joining MLS in July, and all nine have resulted in victories – six from play-in series and three via shootouts in League Cup, US Open Cup and MLS matches.
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But on Wednesday, Messi’s magical left boot failed to score a decisive goal after finding the back of the net 11 times in his first nine games, and Miami dropped points in its long quest to reach the MLS playoffs.
It was the first time Miami had played to a scoreless draw since Messi’s arrival.
Messi started the match on Wednesday alongside his former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets after the two entered Miami’s previous match against the New York Red Bulls in the 60th minute.
Miami had no shots on goal through the first 60 minutes as the team struggled to break down seventh-place Nashville’s defense.
Messi attempted a free kick in the 60th minute after fouling Nashville’s Dax McCarty, but the shot into the bottom left corner was blocked by Elliot Panico.
However, Inter Miami fans took out their phones to score the free-kick, just in case the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner scored another goal similar to the one he scored on his debut – when he scored in the 94th minute to give Miami the win. against Mexican club Cruz Azul in the opening match of the League Cup.
Then Hani Mokhtar’s goal from Nahsville was disallowed due to an offside call in the 69th minute.
Messi had another chance in the 83rd minute, but the shot bounced off the defenders’ wall.
The two teams met 10 days ago in the League Cup final. Messi scored early in regulation and converted the first penalty shot, and Miami won after 11 rounds of shootouts to claim its first-ever title.
Messi and Inter Miami players posed with co-owner Jorge Mas on the field on Wednesday with the League Cup for the first time in front of their fans.
With this draw, Miami raised its score to 22 points with ten games remaining, 10 points ahead of the last place currently occupied by the Chicago Fire. Messi and his teammates will travel to BMO Stadium this weekend to play a match against defending MLS Cup champions Los Angeles FC on Sunday.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.
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