Messi Misses Again as Nashville Hammer Inter Miami 4-1 in MLS

Lionel Messi missed yet another penalty kick and was booked as Inter Miami suffered a 4-1 loss at Nashville on Saturday in a top-of-the-table MLS clash. England's Sam Surridge and Germany's Hany Mukhtar scored second-half goals for the hosts in a showdown between the Major League Soccer overall leaders.

The visitors had a chance to equalize with a Messi penalty kick in the 23rd minute but Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake saved his weak effort. Messi's record from the penalty spot is poor by his sky-high standards, including missing twice at the World Cup. The visitors netted the equalizer three minutes into first-half stoppage time when Venezuelan Telasco Segovia blasted in a right-footed shot off an assist by Messi.

Nashville had already knocked Miami out of this year's CONCACAF Champions Cup in the round of 16. The visitors' seven-match undefeated MLS run was snapped as Nashville remained unbeaten at home in the MLS campaign. Honduran defender Andy Najar scored with a header in the 17th minute to give Nashville a 1-0 lead.

Messi was denied from the penalty spot in the first half and issued a yellow card in the 59th minute but also assisted Inter's lone goal. Messi struck both posts in second-half stoppage time. Nashville leads MLS with 43 points and a record of 13-2 with four drawn while Inter Miami are second on 38 points.

The hosts pulled away in the second half with Mukhtar scoring his second goal in the 63rd minute for extra insurance. Surridge gave Nashville a 3-1 lead. Inter Miami, which had been a league-best 8-1-1 on the road, saw their undefeated away streak snapped.

Messi's record from the penalty spot is poor by his sky-high standards, including missing twice at the World Cup. The 2022 MLS Most Valuable Player Hany Mukhtar put Nashville back in front in the 49th minute.

Nashville had already knocked Miami out of this year's CONCACAF Champions Cup in the round of 16. The visitors saw their seven-match undefeated MLS run snapped as Nashville remained unbeaten at home in the MLS campaign. Honduran defender Andy Najar scored with a header in the 17th minute to give Nashville a 1-0 lead.

Nashville remained unbeaten at home in the MLS campaign with Saturday's win. The hosts have a record of 13-2 with four draws, while Inter Miami are second on 38 points. The visitors had been a league-best 8-1-1 on the road, but saw their undefeated away streak snapped.

The hosts have a record of 13-2 with four draws, while Inter Miami are second on 38 points. Nashville leads MLS with 43 points. The hosts have a record of 13-2 with four draws.