Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF played to a 0-0 draw Sunday at Nissan Stadium, with the shorthanded visitors feeling aggrieved over a hotly debated referee decision midway through the second half.
The match's pivotal moment came in the 70th minute when Walker Zimmerman pulled down Robbie Robinson from behind on a sprint toward goal. Referee Rosendo Mendoza appeared at first to motion to his back pocket, which would have indicated a red card for a Denial of an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity. Instead, a yellow was shown to Zimmerman, a decision upheld following a lengthy Video Review.
Lewis Morgan's ensuing free kick deflected off the Nashville wall for a corner kick.
Robinson, who came off the substitute's bench, had only an 11-minute shift, leaving with an apparent hamstring injury.
Dom Badji had a golden chance to be the hero, but his open header in the box two minutes into second-half stoppage time missed the target.
Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis was tested early, denying Morgan with a diving save to his right in the fourth minute before another low stab to rob Jay Chapman three minutes later.
The best chance of a scoreless first half for the hosts came late when a driven low cross by Alex Muyl found Daniel Lovitz on the other end of the 18-yard box. But the fullback struggled to get the ball out of his feet and fired his shot well over the bar.
Goals
- None
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: Neither team will be particularly pleased with a goalless draw. If not for the debated moment in the second half (more on that below), Inter Miami, playing without the Higuain brothers, might have been more happy with the road point.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: DOGSO or nah? It was debated on the field, adjudicated by Video Review and a talking point on the broadcast and in post-match press conferences. Should Zimmerman have been shown red for this challenge on Robinson?
- MAN OF THE MATCH: The best scoring chances came in the opening 10 minutes — both coming to the visitors — and Willis came up big both times to deny Morgan and Chapman.
Next Up
- NSH: Saturday, May 8 vs. New England Revolution | 1:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ | MLS regular season
- MIA: Sunday, May 9 vs. Atlanta United | 1 pm ET | ABC, ESPN Deports | MLS regular season
