Nashville SC dominated statistically but came away with a scoreless draw against visiting Inter Miami on Wednesday in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup round-of-16 series.
The two-game, total-goal set will conclude on March 18 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The team that advances will oppose either the Philadelphia Union or Mexico’s Club America in the quarterfinals.
The host Boys in Gold wound up with a 15-8 edge in total shots, including a 5-1 advantage in shots on target. Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair was credited with five saves.
Nashville’s Brian Schwake stopped just one shot, an effort by Lionel Messi in the 57th minute. Messi, who led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and Inter Miami to the 2025 MLS Cup championship, among his many accomplishments, remains stuck on 899 career goals for club and country.
In matches later Thursday night, Jamaica’s Mt. Pleasant were set to open their series against the Los Angeles Galaxy in Carson, Calif., and Mexico’s Toluca were due to play their first leg at San Diego FC.
–Field Level Media
