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Miami, FL
Nashville SC vs. Lionel Messi and Inter Miami: Score prediction, scouting report
Despite a number of close calls, Nashville SC hasn’t gotten the better of Lionel Messi yet.
On Saturday, Nashville (1-2-4, seven points) will get another opportunity when it faces Inter Miami (4-2-3, 15 points) at Fort Lauderdale’s Chase Stadium (6:30 p.m. CT, Apple TV).
Since Messi signed with Inter Miami last summer, the Herons are unbeaten in four matches against Nashville. The first three — including an epic Leagues Cup final that Miami won on penalties — all ended tied after 90 minutes, but the most recent meeting did not. Messi and legendary Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez both scored in Miami’s 3-1 win on March 13, which knocked Nashville out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup in the round of 16.
Here’s our score prediction and scouting report for Saturday:
Nashville returns from off week in better health
Nashville’s most recent win was 2-1 over Charlotte FC on March 16. Since then, it has gone 0-2-1 and fallen to 14th in the Eastern Conference. Injuries have been a huge part of that struggle: Walker Zimmerman, Shaq Moore, Tyler Boyd and Randall Leal, all starters or close to it when healthy, missed Nashville’s 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Union on April 6.
An open week gave Nashville time to get healthy. Coach Gary Smith said Thursday that he expects Boyd and Leal to be “part of the equation” against Inter Miami. Zimmerman and Moore have been active in training and “aren’t a million miles off,” but Smith thinks Saturday “might be a push” for the United States internationals.
MORE: How a packed, unforgiving schedule has led to Nashville SC’s worst MLS start since 2020
In addition to two likely reinforcements in attack, Nashville — for the first time this season — heads into a game as the more rested team. Inter Miami has played two games since Nashville’s most recent: a loss to Monterrey, which eliminated Inter Miami from the CCC quarterfinals on April 10, and a win over Sporting Kansas City on April 13.
It’s not a situation Nashville encounters often, but it has boded well in the past. In September, Nashville thrashed Kansas City 3-0 on the road after an 18-day break, during which SKC played twice.
Lionel Messi back from injury
Messi left his previous game against Nashville with a hamstring injury, which ultimately caused him to miss four matches. He made his return in a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids on April 6, scoring his team’s lone goal, and found the net again against Kansas City.
The Herons are 4-1-3 when Messi plays and just 1-3-1 when the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner sits.
“When he’s in the group, there’s a very different feel, look and inspiration about the team,” Smith said. ” . . . When (Miami) is at full strength, they’re going to be a mightily difficult team to suffocate and to really get anything out of.”
Hany Mukhtar off to solid start
On Thursday, Hany Mukhtar appeared surprised when a reporter told him that by one measure, he’s off to his second-best start to a season with Nashville.
Mukhtar is averaging 0.76 combined goals and assists per 90 minutes through seven MLS games. That ranks behind only his 0.87 average from 2022, a season in which he scored 23 goals, assisted on 11 more and was named the league’s MVP.
Mukhtar is optimistic he can build on that start. For one, he said he’s “feeling much better” after a hamstring injury kept him out of three games at the start of the season. He also thinks that the return of Boyd and Leal will allow him to play higher up the field, where he’s more comfortable.
“I think now with Randall coming slowly back and Tyler Boyd coming back to the team, that we find our way,” Mukhtar said. “Me and Sam (Surridge) can stay a little bit higher, be more effective, getting balls from our midfielders in that attacking third.”
Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami score prediction
Nashville 2, Inter Miami 2: Defensive woes continue without Zimmerman and Moore, but Boyd and Leal provide a jolt to the attack and Nashville rides two weeks of rest to earn a point on the road.
MORE: Inside Taylor Washington’s journey from USL to Nashville SC mainstay in MLS
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on Twitter @Jacob_Shames.
Miami, FL
Antonio Gates allegedly hosted and played in rigged Miami poker game: report
Antonio Gates allegedly hosted and played in a rigged Miami poker game, according to a new report.
Sports investigative journalist Pablo Torre reported on Sunday that the Hall of Fame tight end hosted and participated in an allegedly rigged game that was organized by Curtis Meeks, who was indicted by federal prosecutors as part of the massive gambling scandal that rocked the NBA.
Details were limited, but Torre’s report follows a report by The Post on Saturday, where one purported victim said that he and his friends had been scammed of nearly $1 million, with an ex-NFL player serving as the “face card” for a game in which Meeks was a main participant.
The federal indictment that was unsealed last week named more than 30 people and painted a picture of separate elaborate sports betting and rigged poker game schemes that involved Trail Blazers head coach Chauncy Billups, Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player Damon Jones.
Federal prosecutors alleged that Billups had been involved as a “face card” for the rigged poker games, with mob-linked organizers using him to lure “fish” into the high-tech scheme.
Gates has not publicly commented on the report and it’s unclear if his alleged involvement is related to the rigged poker scheme that federal prosecutors had been probing.
Follow The Post’s latest on the gambling scandal rocking the NBA:
The source that spoke with The Post could not say if the game he played in was part of the same poker ring, but he said Meeks was participating in the game that they were playing in and noted that “we would never have been there if not for the professional athlete.”
The person did not name the athlete in The Post’s report.
The FBI has arrested 31 people involved in a rigged poker game ring backed by the New York City organized crime families.
- Ernest Aiello — reputed Bonanno mobster
- Nelson “Spanish G” Alvarez
- Louis “Lou Ap” Apicella
- Ammar “Flapper Poker” Awawdeh
- Saul Becher — professional poker player
- Chauncey Billups — Portland Trail Blazers coach, NBA Hall of Famer and 2004 NBA champion
- Matthew “The Wrestler” Daddino
- Eric “Spooky” Earnest
- Lee Fama — professional poker player
- John Gallo
- Marco Garzon
- Thomas “Tommy Juice” Gelardo — reputed Lucchese mobster charged in 2013 for beating porn star girlfriend
- Jamie Gilet
- Tony “Black Tony” Goodson
- Kenny Han
- Shane “Sugar” Henne
- Osman “Albanian Bruce” Hoti
- Horatio Hu
- Zhen “Scruli” Hu
- Damon “Dee Jones” Jones — NBA player from 1998 to 2009
- Joseph Lanni
- John “John South” Mazzola
- Curtis Meeks
- Nicholas Minucci
- Michael Renzulli
- Anthony Ruggiero Jr.
- Anthony “Doc” Shnayderman
- Robert “Black Rob” Stroud
- Seth Trustman
- Sophia “Pookie” Wei
- Julius Ziliani
The federal indictment sent shockwaves through the sports world and the idea that athletes from outside the NBA could be involved is sure to shake things up even more.
Gates was just inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August after spending his entire career with the Chargers.

In 16 seasons in the NFL, Gates recorded 11,841 receiving yards and 116 receiving touchdowns.
He last played in 2018.
Miami, FL
Miami Superstar Ranked as the Best Freshman in the Country
The Miami Hurricanes are looking to get back on track against the Stanford Cardinals and it starts with one of the best players on the team having an eltric day.
Malachi Toney has been the best wide receiver to come out of Coral Gables in some time. In a new ranking from ESPN, Toney sits at the top among all other freshmen in the country as the best.
1. Malachi Toney, WR, Miami
One of the youngest players in the country, Toney reclassified into Miami’s 2025 class and wasted no time proving he was undervalued as a three-star recruit. Even in an upset loss to Louisville, he was a bright spot with nine catches for 135 yards, a 12-yard reverse for a TD, and a 2-point conversion pass. Toney already has a knack for showing up against the Hurricanes’ toughest opponents.
He averaged 85 yards per game against Miami’s three AP Top 25 opponents, and he tallied a then-career-high 107 yards and two touchdowns in the Canes’ 28-22 win over Florida State. At 5-foot-11 and 188 pounds, he has become Carson Beck‘s most reliable target, leading Miami in receptions (38) and yards (510) through six games. Both of those marks rank in the top 10 in the ACC. With secure hands, quickness after the catch and fearlessness in traffic, Toney looks like Miami’s next great playmaker.
2. Malik Washington, QB, Maryland Terrapins
3. Bear Bachmeier, QB, BYU Cougars
4. Bryce Underwood, QB, Michigan Wolverines
5. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, QB, California Golden Bears
6. Dakorien Moore, WR, Oregon Ducks
7. Michael Carroll, OL, Alabama Crimson Tide
8. Bo Jackson, RB, Ohio State Buckeyes
9. Nate Sheppard, RB, Duke Blue Devils
10. Dontrell Glover, OG, Georgia Bulldogs
11. Brandon Finney Jr., CB, Oregon Ducks
12. Demetres Samuel Jr., CB, Syracuse Orange
13. Zahir Mathis, DE, Maryland Terrapins, and Sidney Stewart, DE, Maryland Terrapins
14. Graceson Littleton, CB, Texas Longhorns
15. Michael Fasusi, OT, Oklahoma Sooners
Toney is on pace to break nearly every freshman record in program history. So far this season, He has 38 receptions, 510 receiving yards, and three touchdowns.
He also leading the country with the most receptions without a drop among all FBS receivers.
Most receptions WITHOUT a drop among ALL FBS WRs:
Malachi Toney, Miami (FL): 38
Ian Strong, Rutgers: 37
DeAree Rogers, Northern Illinois: 35
Carnell Tate, Ohio State: 34
Braden Pegan, Utah State: 34
Que’Sean Brown, Duke: 31
Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding, ODU: 30
Read More: Miami Freshman On Pace to Break Several Program Records
Justice Sandle is a graduate of Mississippi State University and is the site lead for the Miami Hurricanes on SI. He can be reached at Twitter @Justice_News5.
Follow all social media platforms to stay up to date with everything Miami Hurricanes- Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and BlueSky.
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Miami, FL
Video shows arrest of ex-North Miami school worker accused of showing explicit photo to student
NORTH MIAMI, Fla. — New video obtained exclusively by Local 10 News on Thursday shows the arrest of a former maintenance worker who also worked as a security guard at Mater Academy in North Miami who authorities say is accused of showing an explicit photo to a 15-year-old student.
Leer en español
North Miami police say 61-year-old Adolfo Eusebio Cotarelo is seen in cafeteria surveillance video holding up his phone as he spoke to the victim on Oct. 10 in the charter school’s cafeteria.
Investigators said he allegedly showed her a photo of himself in bed next to a woman wearing only a bra and made sexually explicit comments.
“Look at his face — disgusting, disgusting individual,” a parent said after seeing the video.
According to North Miami police, Cotarelo was arrested five days later at the school.
Additional body camera video shows him being led into a room at the North Miami Police Department before officers place him in handcuffs. He had the word “maintenance” printed across his shirt.
Authorities say Cotarelo asked the girl inappropriate questions, including how she would “please herself,” and told her she could use a secluded area of the school’s third floor to be alone with a boy she liked.
“He really is disgusting. I wish these things wouldn’t happen, but what can you do?” another parent stated.
Police said Cotarelo’s statements during questioning “changed constantly,” though he admitted to several details the victim described.
Surveillance video confirmed that he approached the student in the cafeteria and appeared to show her something on his cellphone.
Investigators fear there may be additional victims.
In a statement, Mater Academy Biscayne North Miami High School said:
“Upon learning of inappropriate comments made by a staff member to a student, we immediately conducted an investigation with law enforcement. The individual has been removed from their position and will not return. Student safety remains our top priority.”
“I’m just glad they caught him and he’s off the streets,” another parent told Local 10’s Rosh Lowe.
Jail records show Cotarelo, of Hialeah, faces a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm. He was initially booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and released on a $5,000 bond.
Police continue to investigate and urge anyone with information about additional incidents to contact the NMPD at 305- 891-0294.
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
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