Inter Miami Draws 2-2 With Nashville, Squandering Golden Opportunity to Gain Ground in Supporters’ Shield Race

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NU Stadium-Inter Miami let a golden opportunity to gain ground in the Supporters’ Shield race slip away Saturday night. A late goal by Sam Surridge salvaged a 2-2 draw for Nashville, keeping the club nine points clear of Miami in the standings.

Starting XI

Dayne St. Clair started in goal, with Fricio Caicedo, Casemiro, Maxi Falcón, and Ian Fray forming the backline. Yannick Bright, Rodrigo De Paul, and Telasco Segovia anchored the midfield trio, while Germán Berterame, Luis Suárez, and Lionel Messi led the attack.

Starting XI for #InterMiamiCF tonight… New Heron Matias Galarza is on the bench with Sergio Reguílon & Gonzalo Lujan returning from injury..#MLS #Lemoncitylive pic.twitter.com/Eo0YeccngB

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) September 12, 2026

Game Action

The Coyotes made an early statement when Sam Surridge surged forward and finished off Andy Nájar’s lob over the Miami defense.

Surridge surges ahead of the #InterMiamiCF defense to put Nashville up 1-0 early Im the match..#MLS #Lemoncitylive pic.twitter.com/WE7pFgG5xD

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) September 13, 2026

A curling Lionel Messi corner kick was grazed by Reed Baker-Whiting and redirected into his own goal, leveling the match at 1-1.

The Herons get on the board via another corner kick. Fourth straight match #InterMiamiCF scores in this manner..#Messi #MLS #Lemoncitylive 1-1… pic.twitter.com/yNB6EJVwGW

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) September 13, 2026

The teams entered halftime deadlocked at 1-1. Lionel Messi then put the Herons ahead with a patented left-footed curler that found the back of the Nashville net, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

The GOAT 🐐 rips one from outside the box to pull #InterMiamiCF ahead 2-1… DePaul sets him up with a short pass & #Messi buries it..#InterMiamiCF #Lemoncitylive pic.twitter.com/be9A0tkR2b

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) September 13, 2026

Sam Surridge leveled the match with a putback after pouncing on a rebound from Dayne St. Clair. The match ultimately ended 2-2, with the Herons missing a golden opportunity to close the gap on Nashville’s Supporters’ Shield points lead.

Nashville ties it up late & takes a golden point home from Miami.. 2-2 final..#MLS #InterMiamiCF #Lemoncitylive pic.twitter.com/LmPiuJm2iv

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) September 13, 2026

Big Boys’ Game

Nashville head coach B.J. Callaghan’s postgame comments underscored the significance of the matchup between two of MLS’s top teams.

This was a big boys’ game tonight. Two really good teams going toe-to-toe. 

The Herons and the Coyotes are arguably the two best teams in MLS, and Saturday night at NU Stadium felt like a preview of a potential Eastern Conference Final. Nashville was composed and dangerous throughout the night, proving once again why it sits atop the Supporters’ Shield race. Inter Miami, meanwhile, remains mired in a rut, with injuries ravaging the squad and several key players struggling to find their best form. Yet, despite their recent struggles, the Herons still had a golden opportunity to claim all three points. Two MLS heavyweights slugged it out in Miami, and in the end, neither was knocked off its feet. Both walked away standing, ready to fight another day.

Messi Milestone

Lionel Messi scored his 99th goal for Inter Miami CF against Nashville SC, putting him one strike away from another historic milestone. The GOAT could score his 100th goal for the Herons on Wednesday night when Inter Miami faces Mexican powerhouse Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup. The reigning champions of MLS and Liga MX will battle for the trophy in what could be a historic night for Miami’s captain. If Messi does find the net, it would be almost poetic justice, as his first goal for the Herons came against this same Cruz Azul side in the 2023 Leagues Cup.

Ideally Kily

It would be ideal if Kily Gonzalez were available for Wednesday’s match versus Cruz Azul. Gonzalez could coach his first game for Inter Miami CF, win his first match, and win his first trophy all in the same night.

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