Blaise Matuidi's Inter Miami debut ends in scoreless draw with Nashville SC

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:14 am

Nashville SC and fellow expansion side Inter Miami CF played to a scoreless draw on Sunday night in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The scoreless draw perhaps was par for the course for both clubs, with Inter Miami CF (six goals) and Nashville SC (five goals) residing in the bottom of the league in that category.

Nashville SC failed to convert a prime chance in the 80th minute, as Daniel Lovitz took advantage of a defensive miscue from Leandro Gonzalez Pirez before sending a left-footed shot wide of the goal.

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Joe Willis made five saves for Nashville SC, who also posted a 1-0 win over Inter Miami CF at Nissan Stadium on Aug. 30. Nashville SC were bidding for a clean sweep of their fellow expansion rival for the first time in MLS since Portland brushed aside Vancouver in 2011.

World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi played 79 minutes in his MLS debut with Inter Miami CF after three seasons with reigning Italian champions Juventus and six campaigns with French giants Paris Saint-Germain.

Luis Robles finished with four saves for Inter Miami CF, who answered a 1-hour, 20-minute delay due to lightning in the area by nearly opening the scoring on three separate occasions in the match's first 20 minutes.

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Rodolfo Pizarro was responsible for misfiring from the 6-yard box in both the eighth and 20th minute before Nashville SC nearly opened the scoring four minutes later after an exchange following a set piece.

Walker Zimmerman headed a pass to Dominique Badji, whose left-footed shot from the center of the box was denied by Robles in the 24th minute. Inter Miami CF defender Jorge Figal cleared the loose ball out of harm's way from just outside the goal line.

Figal attempted to make an impact at the other end of the pitch in the 66th minute, however his left-footed shot from outside the box was denied by Willis.