In the second half, the Argentine picked up a secondary assist as Tadeo Allende netted his first postseason goal, putting his side up 2\u20130. Miami <\/a>continued to attack and their third goal came easily; Messi tapped in a spilled cross from Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis to ice the victory on the home pitch in second-half stoppage time. <\/p>\n Nashville<\/a> pushed throughout the match, but weren’t able to find a goal until the final moments of second-half stoppage time when Hany Mukhtar struck home a direct free kick as the final action of the match. <\/p>\n With the win, Miami now sit a game away from advancing in the playoffs <\/a>for the first time in club history. To clinch a spot in the second round of the postseason, the Herons will need to win either Game 2 at Nashville\u2019s GEODIS Park or a potential Game 3 back at Chase Stadium, with either FC Cincinnati<\/a> or Columbus Crew <\/a>waiting in the next round.<\/p>\n New SI FC Newsletter Global Embed. Sign Up to Get Informed With SI FC. dark. FREE NEWSLETTER<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n *Ratings Provided by FotMob*<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Luis Su\u00e1rez played one of his best games for Inter Miami in Game 1 of the MLS Cup playoffs. \/ Sam Navarro-Imagn Images<\/p>\n GK: Rocco R\u00edos Novo<\/strong>\u20146.2<\/strong>: The young goalkeeper spent most of the season as the backup to Oscar Ustari, but has taken over the starting role and made two saves before surrendering the clean sheet in the 11th minute of second-half stoppage time. <\/p>\n RB: Ian Fray<\/strong>\u20147.9: <\/strong>The Jamaica international proved his value as an attacking fullback with overlapping runs and a pinpoint cross to set up Allende\u2019s 2\u20130 goal. <\/p>\n CB: Noah Allen<\/strong>\u20147.3:<\/strong> After a timid start, the Greece U-21 international found his form and finished the night with 10 defensive actions, helping Miami keep Nashville off the scoresheet from open play. <\/p>\n CB: Maxi Falc\u00f3n<\/strong>\u20147.5: <\/strong>The 28-year-old has proven a key piece of the Herons\u2019 defense, and was once again vital in leading the top center back pairing, ending with one of his better ratings in recent memory. <\/p>\n LB: Jordi Alba<\/strong>\u20146.6: <\/strong>With Allende charging up one wing, Alba dropped back into a more defensive role, ensuring Miami preserved their lead.<\/p>\n RM: Tadeo Allende<\/strong>\u20148.0:<\/strong> Allende put in one of his best games for Inter Miami, putting up a critical four clearances, as well as two passes into the final third, and three shots through 77 minutes.<\/p>\n DM: Sergio Busquets<\/strong>\u20147.8:<\/strong> Set to retire at the end of the season, Busquets was dominant in the midfield with three successful tackles. <\/p>\n DM: Rodrigo De Paul<\/strong>\u20147.3: <\/strong>De Paul picked up a yellow card and completed 55 of his 59 attempted passes. The Argentine created two chances as well, but he was not among Miami’s standout performers. <\/p>\n LM: Baltasar Rodr\u00edguez<\/strong>\u20146.5<\/strong>: While Allende stood out on the right side, Rodr\u00edguez struggled to make an equal impact down the left. The Argentine youngster was dispossessed twice and only had two tackles. <\/p>\n ST: Lionel Messi<\/strong>\u20149.0: <\/strong>Messi brought his total goal contributions in MLS games (regular season and playoffs) to 51 for the season with a goal off a diving header and a secondary assist on Allende’s tally, before adding a third tap-in during second-half stoppage time. <\/p>\n ST: Luis Su\u00e1rez<\/strong>\u20147.9: <\/strong>Su\u00e1rez stood out in attack with three shots, but it was his pinpoint delivery for Messi’s opening goal which will take the focus from Game 1. <\/p>\n Substitutes<\/strong><\/p>\n Rating<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/tr>\n Telasco Segovia (70′ for Rodr\u00edguez)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 6.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Mateo Silvetti (77′ for Allende)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 6.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Gonzalo Luj\u00e1n (89′ for Fray)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n N\/A<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Yannick Bright (89′ for De Paul)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n N\/A<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Subs not used:<\/strong> Oscar Ustari (GK), Marcelo Weigandt, Ryan Sailor, Faf\u00e0 Picault, Tomas Aviles<\/p>\n Nashville (4-3-3)<\/p>\n Starting XI:<\/strong> Joe Willis (GK); Andy N\u00e1jar, Walker Zimmerman, Jeisson Palacios, Daniel Lovitz; Bryan Acosta, Eduard Tagseth, Patrick Yazbek; Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge, Jacob Shaffelburg.<\/p>\n Subs not used: <\/strong>Brian Schwake (GK), Jack Maher, Teal Bunbury, Tyler Boyd.<\/p>\n Player of the Match: Lionel Messi Lionel Messi ended his night with a tap-in goal after a disaster at the back for Nashville SC. \/ Sam Navarro-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Messi was back at his best for Inter Miami throughout the action on Friday night, opening the scoring in the 19th minute with a diving header. The Argentine then picked up a secondary assist on the Herons\u2019 second goal before finding the back of the net in stoppage time to tally three goal contributions on the night.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 38-year-old received the ball after a challenge from Allende before laying off to Rodrigo De Paul Messi then made a run into space, where he regained possession and set up Luis Su\u00e1rez for the cross. The Uruguayan’s delivery was inch-perfect and Messi headed the ball in for his 38th goal across all competitions this season.\u00a0<\/p>\n Messi magic in Game One! \ud83d\udca5<\/p>\n What a start for @InterMiamiCF<\/a>. \/\/ Audi MLS Cup Playoffs pic.twitter.com\/6ugOORVHGT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 25, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The attack came after a rocky start for the Herons. Just moments before, Nashville winger Jacob Shaffelburg stripped Miami defender Noah Allen at the back and slipped on a breakthrough, making the save simple for Rocco R\u00edos Novo between the sticks.\u00a0<\/p>\n While both teams took the first few minutes to settle into the game, it reached a frantic pace by the 10th minute and didn\u2019t slow down. The Herons, though, took quick control through bunkering and counter attacks in the first half, while exposing Messi\u2019s off-ball skillsets as much as his dribbling.\u00a0<\/p>\n Miami extended their lead just after the hour mark with a 14-pass buildup out of the back, which ended with Messi sliding a ball to an overlapping run from Ian Fray in the attack. The newly-appointed Jamaica international then floated in a cross for a rising Allende, who nodded past Nashville\u2019s Joe Willis for the 2\u20130 lead.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ian Fray to Tadeo Allende to make it 2-0!<\/p>\n The hosts are up in Game One. <\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa Apple TV & FS1: https:\/\/t.co\/4kHGgd1eHs<\/a> \/\/ Audi MLS Cup Playoffs pic.twitter.com\/NuHo1uj1Sg<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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