In the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League Round of 16, Inter Miami and Nashville drew 2-2 on Friday (08). After seeing their opponents take a two-goal lead through Jacob Shaffelburg (twice), Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez came on in the second half to level the scores.
The second leg will take place next Wednesday (13) at 22:15 in Florida.
- Follow Esporte News Mundo on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
The hosts wasted no time and opened the scoring from the first attack. In a well-worked move and with the help of the defense, Shaffelburg received a one-on-one with Callender and put the ball in the Inter Miami net. Nashville kept up the pressure and almost got their second, again Shaffelburg was free, this time the striker crossed into the area, the goalkeeper let the ball go and Mukhtar was unable to finish.
Inter Miami tried to respond with Lionel Messi, but the Argentine’s shot went wide of the Nashville goal. Tata Martino’s side found it very difficult to create play and almost saw their opponents add to their tally, only to be denied by a good save from Callendar.
The second half started in the same way as the first, with Nashville taking the offensive initiatives and managing to score. Shaffelburg received the ball on the left flank, cleared it onto his right foot and struck it neatly into Callender’s corner.
Needing to chase the score, the Messi and Suárez duo appeared again. In the sixth minute, the Uruguayan set up the No. 10 on the edge of the penalty area and the Argentinian struck the ball into the corner of Willis’ goal. The goal sparked the visitors, who came close to equalizing through Diego Gómez, but the midfielder was in an awkward position.
The Nashville team evened the game up again, lost the intensity and the hosts began to manage the lead. In the 37th minute, Shaq Moore linked up with Orrin McKinze and scored the third of the game, but after consulting the VAR, the right-back was ruled offside.
Looking for an equalizer, Inter launched themselves into attack and in stoppage time managed to level the score. Sergio Busquets was brought on down the right and crossed the ball for Suárez to head in.
