Lionel Messi struck a screamer and won his first North American soccer trophy as Inter Miami defeated Nashville on penalties (10-9) after their final draw 1-1 after 90 minutes.
The Argentine World Cup winner put Miami ahead in the 24th minute with a spectacular shot into the top corner, but Nashville equalized in the second half through Fafa Picault.
After Messi struck the post and Miami’s Leonardo Campana missed a last-second chance to win the game in regulation, the game went to a shootout, which ended with a duel between the two keepers with Elliot Panicco’s attempt being stopped by Drake Callender.
Messi and his teammates raced to the American goalie, who had made some crucial saves late in the game to keep his team in the contest.
Miami, in their third season, were at the bottom of Major League Soccer when Messi arrived a month ago, but Messi, together with Spanish duo Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, has completely transformed the team, leading them to a seven-game unbeaten run to the League Cup title.
David Beckham, who founded the club, was astounded by how swiftly the former Barcelona trio were able to bring about change.
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“It is like a movie, you watch these players play and it is, emotionally, everything about their play is beautiful,” he said.
Seven-times Winner of the Ballon d’Or Messi has now scored 10 goals in seven games for his new club, and he has the potential to reach another final on Wednesday when his team plays Cincinnati in the US Open Cup semi-final.
This was not the dominant, entertaining Miami that had lighted up the competition in the previous month, which featured MLS and Mexican Liga MX clubs, but the victory was great nonetheless.
“I am very happy to win our first title in just one month, the club’s first. The team is growing by leaps and bounds and we are very happy,” said midfielder Busquets.
