Sports Desk:

An 89th-minute goal from Lionel Messi was not enough to save Inter Miami as Nashville SC claimed a 2-1 victory on Saturday, keeping their MLS Cup first-round playoff series alive and forcing a decisive third game.

At a rain-soaked Geodis Park in Tennessee, Nashville took control of the match early with first-half goals from Sam Surridge and Josh Bauer. The win denied Miami an early ticket to the next round, setting up a decisive third game in the best-of-three series.

Nashville opened the scoring in the ninth minute after being awarded a penalty. Sam Surridge converted from the spot, calmly placing the ball to the right of Inter Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo. The penalty came after Ríos Novo hesitated to advance off his line as Surridge charged toward the ball.

Just before halftime, Nashville doubled their lead when Josh Bauer slid in a left-footed finish from close range after a well-placed corner by Hany Mukhtar. The home side entered the break leading 2-0, putting Miami under significant pressure.

Inter Miami started the second half with renewed determination. In the 66th minute, veteran striker Luis Suárez came close to scoring, but Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis produced a fine save to parry his close-range effort.

As the match approached full time, Messi and his teammates increased their attacking intensity. In the 89th minute, midfielder Rodrigo De Paul found Messi inside the box. The Argentine maestro, recently crowned MLS Golden Boot winner, wrong-footed his defender and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot into the top-right corner, giving Miami hope.

However, the late strike proved too little, too late as Nashville held on for a crucial 2-1 win.

The result levels the series at 1-1 after Miami had won the first leg 3-1, with Messi scoring twice in that encounter. The teams will now meet again in Miami for a decisive game three to determine who advances to the conference semi-finals.

The situation echoes last year’s disappointment for Inter Miami, when they entered the playoffs as the regular-season’s top team, won their first match against Atlanta United, but were later eliminated after losing the next two games.

Philadelphia Union, the Eastern Conference’s top seed and winners of the Supporters’ Shield, advanced to the conference semi-finals with a dominant 3-0 win over Chicago Fire. Tai Baribo struck twice in the opening 16 minutes, while Bruno Damiani added a third in the 35th minute. Goalkeeper Andre Blake preserved the clean sheet by saving a penalty from Brian Gutiérrez in the first half.

Philadelphia, who had edged past Chicago in a penalty shoot-out in game one after a 2-2 draw, will next face either Charlotte FC or New York City FC. Charlotte forced a decisive third game against NYCFC after winning a penalty shoot-out following a goalless draw at Yankee Stadium.

In the Western Conference, Vancouver Whitecaps advanced dramatically after defeating FC Dallas in a penalty shoot-out. Ralph Priso equalized in stoppage time, converting a rebound after his initial effort was saved. Vancouver, who won the opening leg 3-0, progressed after successful penalties from Thomas Muller, Sebastian Berhalter, Kenji Cabrera, and Belal Halbouni. They will next host either Los Angeles FC or Austin FC in the conference semi-finals.

Meanwhile, the Portland Timbers forced a decisive game three against Western Conference leaders San Diego with a shoot-out victory following a 2-2 draw, keeping their playoff hopes alive.