A last-second goal from Luis Suarez, and some inspiration from Lionel Messi, secured Inter Miami a draw in leg one of their Champions Cup tie.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Inter Miami draw Nashville 2-2Messi and Suarez score goalsAdvantage with Herons due to away goalsTELL ME MORE
Nashville SC's Jacob Shaffelburg took his moment and ran with it, scoring four minutes into the match. He then doubled their lead one minute into the second half, with a brilliant finish to make it 2-0 46 minutes into the match.
Then, well, Lionel Messi happened. And then, well, Luis Suarez happened.
The Argentine brought Inter Miami back into the match with a stunning finish from the edge of the box in the 52nd minute. It felt as though it would be enough to get them the momentum they needed to at least leave Geodis Park with a draw, but his magic alone was not enough. He needed his friend and ex-Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez to step up, too.
And, boy, did he do it late.
In the sixth minute of stoppage-time, after playing 95 minutes on his 37-year-old legs, the Uruguayan was found by Sergio Busquets in the box and he smashed the ball home with his forehead to earn a 2-2 draw.
AdvertisementDID YOU KNOW?
This was the first time since preseason that Tata Martino and Inter Miami rolled out in a back-five formation. They didn't win a single match featuring five defenders across four attempts.
USA Today Sports THE MVP
Jacob Shaffelburg: Messi and Suarez will get the love, and deservedly so. However, the Canadian forward was genuinely sensational for NSC. Not only was he a menace on the counter attack, he was strong and patient as well. Both goals were classy finishes and he took the opportunities presented to him and excelled in clinical fashion.
The first was a pure striker's finish, where he played a sneaky run behind a defender and then finished without anyone realizing he was there.
The second, though, my word. Have a hit – and what a moment!
Getty ImagesTHE BIG LOSER
Tata Martino: Regardless of the Herons winning, losing or managing a draw tonight, his lack of rotation in the XI – and usage of a back-five – put Miami at a disadvantage. They've already played one more MLS match than every other team, minus Real Salt Lake. 37-year-old Luis Suarez scored two goals and added two assists last weekend, and instead of resting him four days later, he gave him the nod from the start.
Maybe it was not planned, with Leonardo Campana missing due to injury, but it just felt as though the Herons were running with heavy legs.
To add to it, the Miami boss virtually ignored his bench and the players available off of it. He used just one substitute during the 90-minute period of regulation, and somehow, lucked out by some interplay between two generational footballers.