Lionel Messi missed his third successive penalty as Inter Miami suffered a potentially damaging 4-1 hammering at Nashville on Saturday night.
The 39-year-old, making his first start since the death of his father Jorge, wasted the chance to draw his side level in the 23rd-minute with his spot-kick saved by Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake. Sergio Reguilon slotted home the rebound only to see his effort ruled out for encroachment.
Argentina captain Messi also missed his last two penalties at the World Cup, against Austria and Egypt.
Miami did find a way to cancel out Andy Najar’s opener with Messi supplying the pass for Telasco Segovia to score in first-half stoppage time.
But the Floridians were blown away in the second period with Hany Mukhtar scoring twice either side of a lovely finish from Sam Surridge.
Messi’s miserable evening was compounded late on when he struck the woodwork twice in the same attack and then saw a third attempt on goal ruled out for offside.
Third successive defeat for Messi’s Miami
The defeat was Miami’s third in a row following losses in the Leagues Cup to Monterrey and Club Leon and means Nashville were able to open up a five-point gap at the top of the Eastern Conference with 15 games of the regular season to go.
Despite the setback, coach Guillermo Hoyos was upbeat afterwards. He said: “A defeat like this won’t stop us; we keep growing. We’ll rest today and start working toward our goals again tomorrow. You don’t lose your objectives just because of one defeat; quite the opposite, we are going to aim higher, keep growing, and continue the development of the squad.
“I am grateful for everything the players did. People might point out the 4-1 loss, but the team endured a huge emotional toll; you have to be out there on the pitch to understand it. So, beyond the unfavorable result, there were very valuable things on display, and that is what really matters to me.”
Messi booked as Nashville coach hails marvellous Mukhtar
Messi, who cut a frustrated figure throughout the evening and was booked for haranguing the referee following Nashville’s third goal, will look to lead Miami’s response when they take on the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday.
For Nashville, it was a hugely impressive win but Mukhtar insisted it was just another, despite the status of the opposition, in a season they hope ends with silverware.
He told the MLS website: “It’s not a statement. There are too many games left… We deserve to have this big match, and it is a compliment to our achievements, what we have done in the first 18, 19 games now. But we have to go game by game.”
Mukhtar now has eight goals and five assists in MLS this season and Nashville coach BJ Callaghan was full of praise for the 31-year-old. Callaghan said: “I’ve said this many times; [Mukhtar] leads from a position of selflessness. He leads by example.
“He trains hard, plays hard for 90 minutes, willing to do whatever it takes for the team. I think when you have your leader embodying those values, then everybody else rises to that as well.”
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