Player ratings as Luis Suarez strikes late on to seal comeback draw for visitors

Jacob Shaffelburg struck twice for Nashville SC before Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both found the back of the net for Inter Miami in a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 clash at GEODIS Park.

Despite the visitors who controlled the tempo in the opening minutes of play, it was the hosts to opened the scoring that sent the fans in Nashville into euphoria.

Veteran Miami center-back Serhiy Kryvstov was caught out of position near midfield, which allowed Nashville right-back Shaq Moore to drift past Federico Redondo (who was making his Miami debut) before laying it off to Jacob Shaffelburg. The Canadian winger made no mistake in front of goal, slicing it through Drake Callender’s gloves just under the crossbar in the fourth minute.

It was a similar story to start the second half for Nashville, with Shaffelburg adding his second of the game before Miami had the chance the warm up for the restart. The 24-year-old danced through the Herons’ defense before firing a shot into the far right corner that Callender had no chance of saving.

However, the Herons would respond just a few minutes later through a left-footed curler from none other than Lionel Messi. Luis Suarez laid the ball off with ease near the edge of Nashville’s box, and the superstar No. 10 finished in trademark fashion to bring the game to 2-1 in favor of the hosts.

Miami didn’t give up, though. Suarez, who bagged his first two goals as a Heron against Orlando, made his presence felt in the 95th minute with a point-blank header to tie things up with just moments remaining. Sergio Busquets was on the side of Nashville’s penalty area and served up an inviting cross for the Uruguayan to latch onto.

Miami managed to claw their back from two goals down — two away goals that could be important later on — to draw 2-2 and set themselves up for an easier task in the second leg on on March 13 at Chase Stadium.

GK: Drake Callender – 5/10 – Allowed Shaffelburg’s first effort to go right through his gloves but there was no stopping the Canadian’s second strike.

RWB: Julian Gressel – 6.5/10 – Improved as the game wore on and may have been unfortunate to not receive a pass from Messi as he had a more favorable look in front of goal — but

CB: Tomas Aviles – 6/10 – Pulled out of position for Nashville’s opening goal but got better was the game wore on.

CB: Nicolas Freire – 6/10 – An average…