Inter Miami took a 1-0 lead in their first-round playoff tie against Nashville SC with a 3-1 win at Chase Stadium.

Lionel Messi, who was awarded the MLS Golden Boot ahead of kick-off, scored either side of Tadeo Allende's header just after the hour mark, while Hany Mukhtar scored a late consolation goal as Nashville will now have to win the next two games to progress in the best-of-three series.

The Herons went ahead in the 19th minute through Messi, but the forward scored in unlikely fashion. He played the ball out wide to Luis Suarez, who sent a cross towards his team-mate in the middle, and Messi scored past Joe Willis with a diving header.

Willis denied a second Miami goal twice before the break, first smothering Allende's strike before making a reflex save to stop a close-range rebound from Suarez.

But the Nashville goalkeeper could do nothing to stop Allende's header in the second half. Messi found Ian Fray on the overlap, and the full-back's first-time cross was nodded home by Allende in the six-yard box.

Messi thought he wrapped up the scoring in the sixth minute of additional time, pouncing on a spilt catch from Willis to score in an empty net, but Mukhtar got on the scoresheet with a brilliant free-kick in the 101st minute.

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It was a fairly straightforward win in the end for Miami, who produced 2.35 expected goals (xG) from 12 shots compared to Nashville's 0.68 from seven attempts, and Messi was at the heart of things again.

Just days after signing a three-year contract extension, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner scored his first MLS postseason brace for the club, while he has also scored 12 goals in eight games against Nashville.

And since the Argentine's arrival in 2023, Miami are unbeaten in nine games against the Coyotes (W7, D2), a run that started in the 2023 Leagues Cup final.