Nashville SC 4-1 Inter Miami: Messi misses another penalty in heavy loss to Eastern Conference rivals

Lionel Messi has now missed his last three penalties for club and country after he was denied in Inter Miami’s 4-1 loss to Nashville SC on Saturday.

First-half drama and a saved spot kick

Nashville made a rampant start and took the lead in the 17th minute through Andy Najar’s stooping header from Elias Saad’s teasing cross.

Five minutes later Messi was involved in the move that led to Luis Suarez getting in behind the Nashville backline and being tripped by Jeisson Palacios as he attempted to cut back across the box. Messi stepped up for the penalty but his weak kick was blocked by Brian Schwake down to his right.

Sergio Reguilon stroked the rebound into the empty net, only for the former Tottenham and Manchester United full-back to be penalised for encroachment.

Miami did draw level in first-half stoppage time via a sensational turn and finish from Telasco Segovia, who was found by Messi’s defence-splitting pass.

Nashville pull away after the break

The second half belonged to Nashville. Saad provided his second assist of the day in the 49th minute, finding Hany Mukhtar for a driven finish across goal.

Messi then sent a volley over the crossbar before Sam Surridge made it 3-1 with a nonchalant flick in the 56th minute, with Miami reacting furiously to that goal as they argued there was a foul in the build-up.

Nashville’s 63rd-minute fourth was a tale of two goalkeepers. Schwake spotted the run of Mukhtar and instinctively punted the ball over the top of Miami’s defence, with Rocco Rios Novo’s terrible positioning allowing Mukhtar to roll into an open net.

Messi attempted to single-handedly drag Miami back into the contest, hitting both posts and seeing a right-footed piledriver disallowed for offside, but Nashville were convincing victors.

Messi’s spot-kick woes continue

This was Messi’s first start since the death of his father Jorge earlier this month, having made his return as a substitute in Wednesday’s Leagues Cup defeat to Club Leon. He fired off a remarkable 11 shots throughout the game, nine more than any of his team-mates, Segovia had two.

It was just the fourth instance of a single player having 10 or more shots in an MLS game this season, with two of the other three also being Messi, 10 versus Real Salt Lake and 11 versus Austin FC. Brian White had 12 for the Vancouver Whitecaps against New York City.

Messi’s biggest chance came from 12 yards, and the excellent Schwake denied him. It is the first time since 2014 that Messi has been unsuccessful with three consecutive penalties, having become the first player in World Cup history to miss two penalties at a single edition this year, excluding shoot-outs, versus Austria and Egypt.

The result leaves Miami five points behind Nashville at the top of the East and in the Supporters’ Shield race, with a trip to the Philadelphia Union their next assignment on Wednesday.