Vancouver Whitecaps FC watch Supporters’ Shield race as Inter Miami and Nashville SC play 2-2 at Nu Stadium

Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC provided a late-season MLS Matchday 26 highlight at Nu Stadium, playing to a 2-2 draw in a result headlined by Lionel Messi and Sam Surridge. The reigning MLS Cup presented by Audi champions and current Supporters’ Shield leaders were locked in a tight contest as Miami’s goals were bookended by Surridge, including a stoppage-time equalizer and a second-half finish that came after a Dayne St. Clair rebound.

Messi put Miami in position to respond with a goal credited to his “left foot” from 20 yards in the 62nd minute, described in the MLS recap as a first-time curler that helped Miami retake sole possession of the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi lead at that stage. Nashville had taken an early lead in the fourth minute before Surridge’s brace pulled the match to a draw, with the 91st-minute equalizer completing the late comeback.

The MLS report also notes that the Saturday result maintained Nashville’s nine-point lead over Inter Miami atop the Eastern Conference, while keeping Nashville eight points clear of Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the Shield race with nine matches left to play. The Coyotes’ position was reinforced by their recent matchup history against Miami, after eliminating Inter Miami in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 and then following with a 4-1 MLS win at GEODIS Park last month.

Nashville head coach B.J. Callaghan was quoted by reporters following the match, saying, “This was a big boys’ game tonight,” and adding that it featured “Two really good teams going toe to toe.” The MLS recap credits Surridge’s stoppage-time equalizer as the final word in the Supporters’ Shield storyline affecting Vancouver’s chase.

Written by Vancouver Television Sports Desk