Inter Miami Clinches Leagues Cup Title After Penalty Shootout Win Against Nashville

What a way to go. What a run Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have had. At the Leagues Cup final on Saturday night in Nashville, Tennessee, Inter Miami defeated Nashville SC 10-9 in a penalty kick shootout to break a 1-1 deadlock.

The Messi experience in Miami and the MLS has only lasted seven games so far. And since Inter Miami joined the league in 2020, Messi has already assisted Inter Miami in claiming its first championship.

This Leagues Cup final was fiercely contested, despite the fact that it feels like what should happen when the greatest soccer player in history joins a team that was otherwise a lowly MLS squad before his arrival.

In the 23rd, Messi scored. In the 57th minute, Fafá Picault of Nashville scored. Prior to the game requiring a total of 22 penalties kicks to decide it, both teams came within a few inches of victory in the last minutes of regulation.

Messi Dominates Leagues Cup

inter-miami-clinches-leagues-cup-title-after-penalty-shootout-win-against-nashville — What a way to go. What a run Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have had. At the Leagues Cup final on Saturday night in Nashville, Tennessee, Inter Miami defeated Nashville SC 10-9 in a penalty kick shootout to break a 1-1 deadlock.

Messi’s presence is indisputable, though.

Messi won the Leagues Cup top scorer and best player trophies after tallying 10 goals in his debut tournament appearance with Inter Miami.

Drake Callender of Inter Miami received the award for best goalie of the competition after stopping two attempts from Hany Mukhtar, the current MLS MVP, in the dying seconds, as well as the game-winning penalty shot from Elliot Panicco of Nashville. Then the party got going.

As they celebrated on the field, Messi’s teammates lifted him into the air.
On the bench, Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino and his coaching staff embraced each other while smiling and crying.

Despite having the worst record in the MLS this season, Miami’s offense has exploded since Messi joined the team, scoring 22 goals in their previous seven games.

The most of any player, Messi now holds 44 trophies. The seven-time Ballon d’Or champion was selected as the competition’s top player, which includes teams from MLS and Liga MX.

With its victory, Inter Miami receives $2 million and a guaranteed spot in the Round of 16 of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup.

Source: MSN