Superior statistics — and the attention check — recommend that let a chance slip away within the first leg of its CONCACAF Champions Cup spherical of 16 collection towards Inter Miami.
Nashville outshot Miami 15-8, earned seven corners to the Herons’ one and compelled goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair to make 5 saves, whereas counterpart Brian Schwake wanted to cease just one shot. Per FotMob, Nashville additionally , which measures the chance of a purpose being scored based mostly on the place and the way the shot was taken, in comparison with Inter Miami’s 0.32.
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The primary leg at Geodis Park on March 11 as Nashville could not capitalize on its possibilities. However it nonetheless believes it is in good place towards Lionel Messi and Miami heading into the second leg at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on March 18 (6 p.m. CT, FS2).
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Finest images from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: German Berterame #19 of Inter Miami CF and Jeisson Palacios #4 of Nashville SC compete for the ball throughout the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photographs)
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Finest images from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: German Berterame #19 of Inter Miami CF and Jeisson Palacios #4 of Nashville SC compete for the ball throughout the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photographs)
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Finest images from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF enters the pitch previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photographs)
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Finest images from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Hany Mukhtar #10 of Nashville SC leads the staff out previous to previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photographs)
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Finest images from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF enters the pitch previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photographs)
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Finest images from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF greets Andy Najar #31 of Nashville SC previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photographs)
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Finest images from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF warms up previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photographs)
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Finest images from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Hany Mukhtar #10 of Nashville SC warms up previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photographs)
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Finest images from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF warms up previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Photographs)
“They have been the MLS Cup champion final 12 months, and so they’ve superior far on this match, and getting to organize towards them often brings out one of the best in us,” Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan stated March 17. “It makes us elevate our sport. I feel you have continuously seen that in the best way we’re in a position to adapt and alter and compete, and I do not assume there’s gonna be something totally different.”
Nashville will advance to the quarterfinals with a win and be eradicated with a loss. If the match is tied 0-0 after 90 minutes, it’s going to go to additional time and doubtlessly penalties; every other tie after regulation would end in Nashville advancing as a consequence of having extra away objectives than Miami.
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Nashville got here near scoring on quite a few events throughout the first leg, with St. Clair making robust saves on pictures from , Hany Mukhtar and Reed Baker-Whiting. Mukhtar and additionally missed the web on wide-open pictures from shut vary within the second half.
“We knew that we had some possibilities, and we wish to have gained, however that is how we really feel about each single sport,” midfielder Alex Muyl stated. “We need to win each single sport. And I do not assume we’re kicking ourselves, as a result of we’re in an incredible place to go on the market and advance on this match. I do not assume we’ve got any regrets. If something, we’re simply wanting on the sport with optimism on the truth that we have been in a position to create some issues.”
Whereas Messi entered the primary leg with 15 objectives in his 10 profession matches towards Nashville, he was held to just one shot and fewer touches than regular. Nashville held him scoreless for simply the second time ever whereas additionally preserving forwards German Berterame and Tadeo Allende in test.
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“Once you play towards Miami, it’s a must to be actually organized and disciplined defensively, as a result of they’ve a variety of choices,” Callaghan stated. “I assumed after we evaluated the sport, there have been some actually good moments of us defending as a gaggle and defending with numbers.”
Nashville has misplaced its previous 5 matches at Chase Stadium, and Inter Miami has eradicated it from 4 totally different competitions since 2023 — the 2023 U.S. Open Cup, 2023 Leagues Cup, 2024 Champions Cup and 2025 MLS playoffs. It is making an attempt to strategy the second leg not as an opportunity for revenge, however as a clear slate.
“We’ve got a very optimistic feeling about this group this 12 months, in regards to the steps we have taken and the expansion we have had,” Muyl stated. “We do not have to assume an excessive amount of in regards to the previous and fear in regards to the previous, as a result of that does not actually assist us in any respect.”