Sports Desk:
LOS ANGELES, November 2, 2025 — An 89th-minute goal from Lionel Messi was not enough to rescue Inter Miami as Nashville SC earned a 2–1 victory on Saturday, keeping their hopes alive in the Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup round-one playoff series.
Nashville took control early at a rain-soaked Geodis Park in Tennessee, with first-half goals from Sam Surridge and Josh Bauer securing the win.
Surridge opened the scoring in the ninth minute, converting a penalty to the right of Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo. The spot kick was awarded after Rios Novo hesitated to challenge Surridge as he broke into the box.
Bauer doubled Nashville’s lead just before halftime, sliding in a left-footed finish from a Hany Mukhtar corner to make it 2–0.
Miami came out determined in the second half but were denied by Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis, who parried a close-range effort from Luis Suárez in the 66th minute.
Inter Miami and Messi intensified their attacks late in the match. In the 89th minute, Rodrigo De Paul set up Messi, who beat his defender and fired a left-footed shot into the top-right corner. The goal, however, came too late to change the outcome.
Miami had previously taken the upper hand in the best-of-three series with a 3–1 win in the first match, led by a Messi brace. They will now host the decisive third game to determine who advances. The situation mirrors last season, when Miami exited the playoffs after winning their opening game but losing the next two to Atlanta United.
In the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia Union, the top seed and Supporters’ Shield winners, advanced with a 3–0 victory over Chicago Fire. Tai Baribo scored twice in the eighth and 16th minutes, and Bruno Damiani added a third in the 35th. Goalkeeper Andre Blake preserved the clean sheet by saving a penalty from Brian Gutierrez in the first half.
Philadelphia, who had edged Chicago in a penalty shoot-out after a 2–2 draw in game one, will next face either Charlotte FC or New York City FC in a one-game conference semi-final. Charlotte forced a decisive game three after defeating NYCFC in a penalty shoot-out following a goalless draw at Yankee Stadium.
In the Western Conference, Vancouver Whitecaps secured their semi-final berth with a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over FC Dallas. Ralph Priso equalized for Vancouver in stoppage time after Peter Musa had put Dallas ahead in the 25th minute.
A corner from Sebastian Berhalter set up Thomas Müller, who guided the ball toward Priso. Although his initial attempt was saved, Priso converted the rebound to force extra time. Müller, Berhalter, Kenji Cabrera, and Belal Halbouni scored in the shoot-out to seal the victory.
Vancouver, who won the first leg 3–0, will host either Los Angeles FC or Austin FC in the Western Conference semi-final.
Meanwhile, the Portland Timbers also forced a decisive third game against top-seeded San Diego, prevailing in a shoot-out after a 2–2 draw.