Lionel Messi and Tadeo Allende scored two goals each, and Inter Miami defeated Nashville 4-0 on Saturday to advance to the Major League Soccer Cup playoffs.
Argentine icon Messi, 38, opened the scoring in the 10th minute, added another goal in the 39th and assisted one of compatriot Allende’s second-half goals that sealed Miami’s victory.
Inter Miami won the best-of-three Eastern Conference first-round series 2-1 and booked a second-round match against FC Cincinnati, which defeated Columbus 2-1 in another series-deciding encounter.
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi ensured Miami would avoid a third first-round exit in four seasons after falling to Atlanta last year and New York City in 2022.
AS IT HAPPENED | HIGHLIGHTS OF INTER MIAMI VS NASHVILLE SC
Inter Miami were without Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, who was suspended one match by MLS for violent conduct during last week’s defeat in Nashville.
MLS season goalscorer Messi gave Miami an early lead, collecting a deflected ball and racing to the top of the penalty area to fire a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner.
Messi doubled the margin six minutes before half-time when he fired a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area following a pass from 19-year-old Argentine rookie striker Mateo Silvetti.
Allende scored his first goal from point-blank range after passes from Messi and Jordi Alba, then took a long pass from Messi and fired a high ball into the net.
In Cincinnati, Canadian Jacen Russell-Rowe gave Columbus a 1–0 lead in the 61st minute, but Brazilian striker Brenner Souza replied for the hosts in the 67th and 86th minutes to send FC Cincinnati to host Miami in a second-round match.
Published on November 9, 2025
