Recap: Second half collapse leads to historic Nashville loss against Miami

NASHVILLE, TN – Nashville SC closed out their 2025 regular season with a 5-2 loss to Inter Miami at Geodis Park.

The Boys In Gold were dominant in the first half, but imploded in the second, conceding the most goals they've ever allowed in a home match in the USL or MLS era. They'll turn around and immediately face Inter Miami in a best-of-three series in Round One of the MLS Cup playoffs.

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The XI

With an outside shot at finishing top four in play, BJ Callaghan went with his best possible lineup. Captain Walker Zimmerman kept his spot ahead of Jeisson Palacios, with Eddi Tagseth partnering Patrick Yazbek in midfield. Jordan Knight also made his first appearance in the squad after signing an MLS contract in September.

On the pitch

The first half wasn't short of action. Nashville dominated the chances in the opening 45 minutes, with Sam Surridge coming close on multiple occasions, including a half-volley flashed just wide. Hany Mukhtar also saw a golden chance go missing, smashing a shot just over the bar from outside the box.

By the time Lionel Messi put Miami ahead, Nashville had created enough chances to be up 3-0. As the Coyotes learned, missed chances will come back to punish you against Miami. The Golden Boot leader brought the ball down well, dancing past Tagseth and Yazbek and curling a shot just inside the post.

Nashville responded quickly. Their trio of All-Stars combined to equalize, with Mukhtar dancing past Maxi Falcón to put a cross on the head of Surridge, who found the net for the club-record 24th time. Just before halftime, Jacob Shaffelburg gave the 'Yotes the lead, following a shot from Mukhtar as it smashed the post and burying the rebound for his career-best fourth goal of the year.

That was where the fun ended for Nashville. Miami grabbed onto the momentum after halftime and never let go. Andy Nájar was unfortunate to give away a penalty kick when a ball from Messi took a touch off of Luis Suárez and caught him on the arm, and the MVP-elect made no mistake with the finish. Minutes later, Baltazar Rodríguez put the visitors ahead after an un-pressured Messi picked out the entry pass.

To cap off his night, Messi made it a hat-trick in the 81st minute, exchanging a quick pass with Ian Fray on the edge of the box and swerving another shot past Joe Willis and in.

Telasco Segovia walked in one final goal in first-half stoppage time, with Messi and Suárez combining to give him the easiest of finishes.

Goals

• 35' | MIA | Lionel Messi (Jordi Alba)
• 43' | NSH | Sam Surridge (Hany Mukhtar)
• 45+6' | NSH | Jacob Shaffelburg
• 63' | MIA | Lionel Messi (PK)
• 67' | MIA | Baltazar Rodríguez
• 81' | MIA | Lionel Messi (Ian Fray)
• 91' | MIA | Talasco Segovia (Lionel Messi)

The big picture

The first half performance leaves plenty of room for optimism. Nashville created chances at will, with misses from Surridge and Mukhtar proving costly. The hosts should have gone into half with a commanding lead.

The second half crushed that optimism. Lionel Messi took over the game in a singularly dominant fashion. He finished the match with a league-leading 48 goal contributions, one short of Carlos Vela's all-time record. Nashville struggled to get pressure on him on the edge of the box as the game went on, and once Nashville went behind and the game became stretched, Miami were able to tear them apart in transition.

Nashville have played this Messi-lead Miami team to some incredibly tight matches before. This wasn't one of them. With a monumental playoff series upcoming, they'll have little time to correct things before their season is on the line.

Up next

Nashville turn around and immediately play Inter Miami in the Round One best-of-three series, with Miami hosting the first match and the third, if necessary. It's a huge uphill task for the 'Yotes.

Stats

Possession: NSH 40% – 60% MIA
Total Passes: NSH 365 – 576 MIA
Shots: NSH 15 – 17 MIA
Shots on goal: NSH 7 – 9 MIA
Penalty kicks: NSH 0 – 1 MIA
Goals: NSH 2 – 5 MIA
Expected goals:
Fouls: NSH 10 – 7 MIA
Yellow cards: NSH 1 – 2 MIA
Red cards: NSH 0 – 0 MIA
Announced attendance: 30,109

Post-match media