Lionel Messi Penalty Miss was once again a major talking point as Inter Miami got drubbed by Eastern Conference leaders Nashville with a 4-1 loss on Saturday at Geodis Park.
The Argentine superstar, much like Inter Miami, has been in a troubled period recently and missed a penalty for the third consecutive time. The loss was the third consecutive to drop Miami’s record and was a reminder of the hurdles the team must clear if it wants to stay in the running for an MLS playoff spot.
The home side got a head start when Andy Najar scored a goal. In the 23rd minute, Inter Miami received a golden opportunity to level the scores when a penalty kick was awarded to the team when they were given a penalty. As he was expected to, Messi was allowed to take the spot-kick and again, as expected, he did so, but the save was made by the goalkeeper of the home side, Brian Schwake, who jumped low to his right to deny the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
The opportunity was lost and it was quite an expensive one for Miami as the game went on and they kept exploiting Miami’s weaknesses. The Eastern Conference leaders played a stellar game and eventually came out with a resounding 4-1 win before home fans.
In recent weeks, Messi’s penalty woes have been an out-of-the-blue story. The Argentine is one of the greatest players of all time and has a history of performing in key moments of his career. But three consecutive penalties are a rarity in his illustrious career and will surely draw great attention by fans and analysts.
