Nashville SC Earns 2-2 Draw Against Inter Miami CF in First Leg of Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 7, 2024) – Nashville SC began its Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 series against Inter Miami CF Thursday night with a 2-2 draw in front of a sellout crowd at GEODIS Park. The two-leg series, which will be decided on aggregate, concludes next Wednesday, March 13 at 7:15 p.m. CT in South Florida. 

‘Aint Goin’ Nowhere: Prior to the match, Nashville SC announced the contract extension of 2022 MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar. The German midfielder is team’s all-time leader in goals, assists, and points, a two-time MLS All Star, and a three-time MLS Best XI selection. The extension will keep Mukhtar in Music City through 2026 with an option for 2027.

He's on Fire: Nashville SC's Jacob Shaffelburg scored twice Thursday night for his first career brace. The Canadian forward also scored in Round One to send Nashville to the Round of 16 with a 4-0 victory over Dominican side Moca FC on Feb. 28.  

Next up: The Boys in Gold will conclude a busy week at GEODIS Park on Sunday, March 10 at 2 p.m. CT when they host the LA Galaxy in MLS play. Sunday’s match will celebrate Women’s History Month and tickets are available here. 

Match Timeline:

NSH 4’: Shaq Moore receives the ball and cuts through the right side of the field to find Jacob Shaffelburg waiting at the top of the box, who rifles it home

NSH 47’: Jacob Shaffelburg receives the ball just outside the box, slices through Miami’s backline and rockets the ball into the top right corner of the net

MIA 52’: Lionel Messi receives the ball at the top of the box from Luis Suarez and finds the back of the net

MIA 90’ + 5: Sergio Busquets crosses a ball into the box that Luis Suarez heads home 

Notes:           

• Nashville SC:       
  • has faced off with Inter Miami CF across four different competitions (Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, MLS, Leagues Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup)
  • extended its record against Inter Miami CF to 4W-2L-5D after a third consecutive draw with the South Florida side 
  • conceded its first goal across all competitions in 2024 at GEODIS Park
  • conceded its first goal(s) in Concacaf Champions Cup
  • saw midfielders Jacob Shaffelburg, Hany Mukhtar and Tyler Boyd start together for the first time in 2024
  • saw defenders Dan Lovitz, Walker Zimmerman, Lukas MacNaughton and Shaq Moore start together for the first time in 2024
• Dan Lovitz led the team with a 97% passing accuracy rate
• Lukas MacNaughton has started every game against Inter Miami CF across three competitions (MLS, Leagues Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup) 
• Shaq Moore recorded his first assist since Oct. 14, 2023 vs. New England Revolution
• Jacob Shaffelburg 
  • recorded the first brace of his career
  • has three goals in last two Concacaf Champions Cup appearances  
• Joe Willis 
  • recorded three saves
  • owns a goals against average (GAA) of 0.005 through all competitions in 2024 (MLS, Concacaf Champions Cup) 

Box Score:                  

Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami CF

March 7, 2024 – GEODIS Park

Final Score:                 

NSH:  2

MIA: 2

Scoring Summary:

NSH: Jacob Shaffelburg (A: Shaq Moore) 4’ 

NSH: Jacob Shaffelburg (Unassisted) 47’ 

MIA: Lionel Messi (A: Luis Suarez) 52’ 

MIA: Luis Suarez (A: Sergio Busquets) 90’ +5

Discipline:                 

MIA: Federico Redondo (Caution) 26’

Lineups:        

       
NSH Starters: Joe Willis; Dan Lovitz (Taylor Washington 74’), Lukas MacNaughton, Shaq Moore, Walker Zimmerman (C) (Jack Maher 82’); Sean Davis, Aníbal Godoy (Dru Yearwood 74’), Alex Muyl; Tyler Boyd, Hany Mukhtar (Teal Bunbury 82’), Jacob Shaffelburg (McKinze Gaines 82’)

Substitutes: Elliot Panicco, Amar Sejdić, Forster Ajago, Josh Bauer, Tah Brian Anunga, Brent Kallman 

MIA Starters: Drake Callender; Noah Allen, Tomas Aviles, Nicolas Freire, Sergii Kryvstov; Sergio Busquets, Diego Gomes, Julian Gressel (David Ruiz 80’), Federico Redondo (Lawson Sunderland 90’ + 2); Lionel Messi (C), Luis Suarez 

Substitutes: Carlos Dos Santos, Cole Jensen, Ryan Sailor, Robert Taylor, Shanyder Borgelin, Israel Boatwright 

Match Officials:           

Referee: Marco Ortiz

AR1: Christian Espinosa

AR2: Alberto Morin

4TH: Daniel Quintero

VAR: Oscar Mejia

AVAR: Benjamin Whitty 

Weather: Partly cloudy, 60 degrees