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 a rainy Geodis Park in Tennessee.

Surridge converted a penalty in the ninth minute to put the hosts in front, slotting to the right of 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 2-0 up on the stroke of halftime, sliding in left-footed after a corner by Hany Mukhtar.

Miami opened the second half in determined style but Luis Suarez's close-range shot in the 66th minute was parried by Nashville keeper Joe Willis.

Miami and

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