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Advanced statistics — and the eye test — suggest that Nashville SC let an opportunity slip away in the first leg of its CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16 series against Inter Miami.
Nashville outshot Miami 15-8, earned seven corners to the Herons' one and forced goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair to make five saves, while counterpart Brian Schwake needed to stop only one shot. Per FotMob, Nashville also generated 1.19 expected goals, which measures the probability of a goal being scored based on where and how the shot was taken, compared to Inter Miami's 0.32.
The first leg at Geodis Park on March 11 ended in a 0-0 tie as Nashville couldn't capitalize on its chances. But it still believes it's in good position against Lionel Messi and Miami heading into the second leg at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on March 18 (6 p.m. CT, FS2).
"They were the MLS Cup champion last year, and they've advanced far in this tournament, and getting to prepare against them frequently brings out the best in us," Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan said March 17. "It makes us elevate our game. I think you've constantly seen that in the way we are able to adapt and change and compete, and I don't think there's gonna be anything different."
Nashville will advance to the quarterfinals with a win and be eliminated with a loss. If the match is tied 0-0 after 90 minutes, it will go to extra time and potentially penalties; any other tie after regulation would result in Nashville advancing due to having more away goals than Miami.
MORE: What Hany Mukhtar's historic MLS goal means to Nashville SC
MORE: Is Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi a 'rivalry' yet? If not, it's close
Nashville came close to scoring on numerous occasions during the first leg, with St. Clair making tough saves on shots from Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar and Reed Baker-Whiting. Mukhtar and Warren Madrigal also missed the net on wide-open shots from close range in the second half.
"We knew that we had some chances, and we would like to have won, but that's how we feel about every single game," midfielder Alex Muyl said. "We want to win every single game. And I don't think we're kicking ourselves, because we're in a great position to go out there and advance in this tournament. I don't think we have any regrets. If anything, we're just looking at the game with optimism on the fact that we were able to create some things."
While Messi entered the first leg with 15 goals in his 10 career matches against Nashville, he was held to only one shot and fewer touches than normal. Nashville held him scoreless for just the second time ever while also keeping forwards German Berterame and Tadeo Allende in check.
"When you play against Miami, you have to be really organized and disciplined defensively, because they have a lot of options," Callaghan said. "I thought when we evaluated the game, there were some really good moments of us defending as a group and defending with numbers."
Nashville has lost its past five matches at Chase Stadium, and Inter Miami has eliminated it from four different competitions since 2023 — the 2023 U.S. Open Cup, 2023 Leagues Cup, 2024 Champions Cup and 2025 MLS playoffs. It's trying to approach the second leg not as a chance for revenge, but as a clean slate.
"We have a really positive feeling about this group this year, about the steps we've taken and the growth we've had," Muyl said. "We don't have to think too much about the past and worry about the past, because that doesn't really help us at all."
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at [email protected] and on X/Twitter @Jacob_Shames.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville SC prepared for Inter Miami, Messi in Champions Cup second leg
Continue reading...
Nashville outshot Miami 15-8, earned seven corners to the Herons' one and forced goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair to make five saves, while counterpart Brian Schwake needed to stop only one shot. Per FotMob, Nashville also generated 1.19 expected goals, which measures the probability of a goal being scored based on where and how the shot was taken, compared to Inter Miami's 0.32.
The first leg at Geodis Park on March 11 ended in a 0-0 tie as Nashville couldn't capitalize on its chances. But it still believes it's in good position against Lionel Messi and Miami heading into the second leg at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on March 18 (6 p.m. CT, FS2).
"They were the MLS Cup champion last year, and they've advanced far in this tournament, and getting to prepare against them frequently brings out the best in us," Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan said March 17. "It makes us elevate our game. I think you've constantly seen that in the way we are able to adapt and change and compete, and I don't think there's gonna be anything different."
Nashville will advance to the quarterfinals with a win and be eliminated with a loss. If the match is tied 0-0 after 90 minutes, it will go to extra time and potentially penalties; any other tie after regulation would result in Nashville advancing due to having more away goals than Miami.
MORE: What Hany Mukhtar's historic MLS goal means to Nashville SC
MORE: Is Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi a 'rivalry' yet? If not, it's close
Nashville came close to scoring on numerous occasions during the first leg, with St. Clair making tough saves on shots from Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar and Reed Baker-Whiting. Mukhtar and Warren Madrigal also missed the net on wide-open shots from close range in the second half.
"We knew that we had some chances, and we would like to have won, but that's how we feel about every single game," midfielder Alex Muyl said. "We want to win every single game. And I don't think we're kicking ourselves, because we're in a great position to go out there and advance in this tournament. I don't think we have any regrets. If anything, we're just looking at the game with optimism on the fact that we were able to create some things."
While Messi entered the first leg with 15 goals in his 10 career matches against Nashville, he was held to only one shot and fewer touches than normal. Nashville held him scoreless for just the second time ever while also keeping forwards German Berterame and Tadeo Allende in check.
"When you play against Miami, you have to be really organized and disciplined defensively, because they have a lot of options," Callaghan said. "I thought when we evaluated the game, there were some really good moments of us defending as a group and defending with numbers."
Nashville has lost its past five matches at Chase Stadium, and Inter Miami has eliminated it from four different competitions since 2023 — the 2023 U.S. Open Cup, 2023 Leagues Cup, 2024 Champions Cup and 2025 MLS playoffs. It's trying to approach the second leg not as a chance for revenge, but as a clean slate.
"We have a really positive feeling about this group this year, about the steps we've taken and the growth we've had," Muyl said. "We don't have to think too much about the past and worry about the past, because that doesn't really help us at all."
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at [email protected] and on X/Twitter @Jacob_Shames.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville SC prepared for Inter Miami, Messi in Champions Cup second leg
Continue reading...
