Lionel Messi scored two goals, and Inter Miami took advantage of an admittedly sloppy Nashville SC to earn a 3-1 win and take a 1-0 lead in the first round of their MLS playoff series. The Argentine was short of his best, but opportunistic at the right moments, and the Herons’ only real gripe can be that they didn’t keep a clean sheet in their pursuit of an evasive MLS Cup.

This all looked like classic Miami from the first minute. They were thoroughly outplayed in the opening exchanges and should have gone behind, had it not been for an untimely slip from Jacob Shaffelburg as he ran through on goal. 

Messi soon got into the game, though. And he played architect for the opener. Luis Suarez picked up the ball on the right, and Messi ghosted to the center of the box. Neither defender tracked him, and Messi easily nodded home. 

Tadeo Allende should have made it two in the first half, and eventually did in the second. The goal was a well constructed thing, an Ian Fray cross landing agreeably on Allende’s forehead, who had sufficient space to nod home unchallenged. Nashville had more of the ball in the second half, but did admittedly little with it. 

Miami were, in the most part, happy to defend. They were rather gifted a third when a defensive mishap gave Messi the ball in front of an open goal. He poked it home. Nashville’s defense looked around. Miami took a 3-0 lead. A late Hany Mukhtar free kick, where the German scored, did little to change the result. This wasn’t perfect, but Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano will certainly be pleased. 

GOAL rates Inter Miami’s players from Chase Stadium…