An 89th-minute goal from Lionel Messi was too little, too late as Nashville SC beat Inter Miami 2-1 on Saturday to stay alive in their MLS Cup round one playoff series.

First-half goals from Sam Surridge and Josh Bauer put Nashville in control at rainy Geodis Park in Tennessee and a Miami side led by Argentine superstar Messi couldn’t find a way to respond.

Surridge converted a penalty in the ninth minute to put the hosts on top, slotting a low shot to the right of diving Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo.

Nashville were awarded the spot kick after Rios Novo hesitated coming off his line against a charging Surridge.

Bauer put Nashville up 2-0 on the stroke of halftime, sliding in a left-footed shot off a corner floated in by Hany Mukhtar.

Miami opened the second half in determined styl

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