Inter Miami 2-1 Nashville: Messi bags another brace as hosts close gap on Eastern leaders

Lionel Messi's latest MLS brace saw Inter Miami close the gap on Nashville with a 2-1 victory over the Eastern Conference leaders at Chase Stadium.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner netted twice for a fifth successive league game to move Javier Mascherano's side within five points of the Boys in Gold, with three games in hand.

Messi broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when he swept a superb 20-yard free-kick beyond Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis, via a slight deflection.

However, the hosts were pegged back four minutes into the second half. Andy Najar's right-wing cross was met by Hany Mukhtar, who sent a free header past Oscar Ustari for his 10th goal of the season.

Nevertheless, Miami were not to be denied a fifth straight victory, albeit with a huge helping hand from Willis in the 62nd minute.

The goalkeeper's loose pass went straight to Messi, who rounded him before finding the empty net to seal his side's fifth straight league win.

Data Debrief: Two-goal Messi strikes again to move level with Surridge

Miami are now on their joint-longest winning streak between July and September 2024, while they are unbeaten in their last eight meetings with Nashville, prevailing from the four most recent encounters.

Finding the net for a sixth successive MLS match, Messi took his goal tally for the season to 16, moving level with Sam Surridge at the top of the leaderboard.

The Herons continued their unbeaten record when scoring the opening goal in MLS this season, having now won 10 of their 12 matches in which that has occurred (drawing two).

Meanwhile, Nashville saw their club-record unbeaten streak of 12 matches brought to an end.