Nashville SC set to face Lionel Messi, Inter Miami superstar
The greatest soccer player of all time is coming back to the Music City.
Nashville SC beat Moca FC 4-0 in the second leg of its CONCACAF Champions Cup first-round series Wednesday at Geodis Park, sealing a 7-0 win on aggregate goals and advancing to face Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in the round of 16.
The first leg will take place at Geodis Park on March 7, and the second leg will be at Miami on March 13. The winner of the series will take on either FC Cincinnati or Monterrey in the quarterfinals in early April.
Inter Miami had a first-round bye in the tournament, the result of a victory over Nashville in last season’s Leagues Cup final. Miami won 10-9 in a penalty shootout which came down to goalkeepers Drake Callender and Elliot Panicco, after a first-half strike from Messi was answered by Fafa Picault’s goal after halftime.
Nashville and Miami tied 0-0 in an MLS regular-season game on August 30, which ended Messi’s streak of nine games with at least a goal or an assist since he joined Inter Miami.
Messi has started both of Inter Miami’s first two games in MLS play. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner assisted on a goal in a 2-0 season-opening win over Real Salt Lake and scored a stoppage-time goal to force a 1-1 tie with the Los Angeles Galaxy.
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Jacob Shames can be reached by email at [email protected] and on Twitter @Jacob_Shames.
