Inter Miami Wins Inaugural Leagues Cup Title In Heart-Pounding Penalty Kicks Shoot-Out

Geodis Park – The Herons hoisted their first trophy in team history thanks to heroics from stars Lionel Messi and Drake Callender, who came up big for Inter Miami in their Leagues Cup Finals match versus Nashville SC. Lionel Messi scored his tenth goal in the tournament to lead Miami to a draw in regulation play and set up a dramatic finale. Inter Miami CF are Champions after a heart-pounding eleven-round penalty kicks shoot-out ended with Drake Callender blocking Nashville SC’s goalkeeper Elliot Panicco’s attempt immediately after scoring on his own penalty kick.

Kick Off

The Starting XI for Inter Miami remained the same for the third straight match, as Tata Martino had placed his confidence in this group of men to conquer the Leagues Cup.

The Starting XI that will look to give #InterMiamiCF its first trophy 🏆…This is the same team that dismantled Philly ending a 28 game unbeaten streak for the Union at Subaru Park…Miami 🆚 Nashville 🏆…Lionel Messi Time …#LeaguesCupFinal #Messi𓃵 #MLS pic.twitter.com/x9lexeJXLw

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 20, 2023

Nashville SC pressed Inter Miami CF early in order to reduce space for Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi to receive and distribute the ball. Unlike Philadelphia in the previous match, Nashville was aggressive from the first minute and made Miami uncomfortable.

Miami’s first shot on goal was in the 21′ minute as Robert Taylor rocketed a shot that Nashville goalkeeper Elliot Panicco blocked wide. Just two minutes later, Lionel Messi gathered a rebound from a failed Robert Taylor pass to Benjamin Cremaschi, took a touch around Walker Zimmerman, and unleashed a curling missile that found the upper left corner of the Nashville net.

LIONEL MESSIIIIIIII!!!!!! Rips a kick into the upper corner for the GOLAZO!!!! #Messi𓃵 is out of this world 🌎!!!23’ minutes #InterMiamiCF  leads 1-0…#MLS #LeaguesCupFinal https://t.co/KyP1eJ7st9

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 20, 2023

Messi’s goal gave Miami the 1-0 lead and control of the rest of the half, as the team took possession away from Nashville.

Inter Miami continued dominating possession early in the second half and looked close to scoring a second goal, but Nashville SC got the goal in the 57′ minute on a corner kick. Set pieces are Nashville’s strength and Miami’s weakness, and it played out perfectly as Fafa Picault’s diving header found its way into the Miami net to make it 1-1.

Nashville gets on the scoreboard the only way they could of, on a dead ball ⚽️ corner kick own goal by #InterMiamiCF  1-1…#MLS #LeaguesCupFinal #Messi𓃵 https://t.co/aVcuzkfuUg

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 20, 2023

The goal gave Nashville momentum and the home team took control of the match away from Inter Miami.

Nashville survived a scare in the 71′ minute as Lionel Messi clanged a shot off the goalpost, but Hany Muhktar & Sam Surridge spooked Miami with a breakaway collaboration in the 77′ minute that saw Drake Callender make a fantastic block of a Surridge crossing shot at goal. Muhktar gathered the rebound and shot quickly, but a diving Sergeii Kryvtsov blocked the kick.

Inches away from another Messi strike. 👀

Still even at 1-1. Catch the finale on #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/zMquhP1RY8 pic.twitter.com/IhUCg2Dqo7

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 20, 2023

Sergio Busquets in the 93′ minute launched a magnificent service over the Nashville defense to Leo Campana who fought off a defender and dashed toward the Nashville goal with the chance to win the game in stoppage time. Campana took a nifty tap around a charging Panicco, but it was a tad too long and despite a diving effort, Leo could not put the ball into goal. It was the final play of regulation and the teams headed to penalty kicks to define the Leagues Cup Champion.

Leo Campana 🔔!!!!! Oh no !!! By centimeters, he misses the goal for the win in regulation…Now on to PK’s …#InterMiamiCF📷 #MLS #LeaguesCup #Messi𓃵 https://t.co/dRbHpYgjfP

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 20, 2023

Penalty Kicks Shoot out!

Inter Miami CF would be crowned Champions in an epic and agonizing 11 rounds of penalty kicks in  Nashville. It all came down to Super Drake Callender, Miami’s best player in the match. Callender nailed his penalty kick and subsequently made the game-winning block on Nashville goaltender Elliot Panicco. The Leagues Cup belonged to Inter Miami!

WHAT. AN. ENDING.

The moment Drake Callender won it with a save for @InterMiamiCF! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Krx8sOfX6I

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 20, 2023

Postgame Press Conference

In the most memorable press conference in Inter Miami’s history, Coach Tata Martino was ambushed by his jubilant players who burst in spraying champagne and singing! What a moment, what a memory! I wish I would have been credentialed to be there and soak in that moment in person. Regardless, from a distance, I too felt the jubilation and relief of seeing the team win its first trophy in such an epic fashion.

😂😂😂🏆🏆🏆CAMPEONES CAMPEONES!! https://t.co/E4LcX9hq0K

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 21, 2023

Final Thoughts

Inter Miami CF are the Leagues Cup 2023 champions! “Messi and Friends” have delivered the organization’s first-ever trophy just barely over a month into their tenure in Miami, and it could just be the beginning. The US Open Cup is next, where they find themselves two victories away from possibly winning another championship. If the US Open Cup is conquered, then Miami would also have a mathematical chance to make the MLS Playoffs with their batch of remaining games.

Miami’s chances of making the playoffs aren’t great, but it’s also not impossible. If they somehow get in, like I think they can, watch out because they’ll have a legitimate chance to win it all.

Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Tata Martino have come to Miami to win titles and raise Inter Miami to new heights. These four have brought an air of confidence and competency that has inspired the entire squad. The best thing is that on the current roster, Miami has many young players learning the ropes from these great teachers. The present and the future are bright for Miami.

The US Open Cup semifinals are next for Inter Miami versus a very good FC Cincinnati team this Wednesday in Cincinnati. It’s going to be interesting to see how Tata Martino handles Messi, Busquets, and Alba. The “Three Amigos” have been outstanding in the Leagues Cup and have played big minutes in the tournament for Miami. Will they get some rest early in the match and come on in the second half, or will we see the U-22 Initiative players Diego Gomez, Facundo Farias, and Tomas Aviles if they are eligible to play?

Inter Miami CF has suddenly become the most watched and most hated team in the MLS. How anyone can hate a team that features the Goat Lionel Messi is beyond me. Messi is the most humble and unassuming Goat I have ever seen. Lionel still has some gas left in his tank, so it’s not too late to turn that hate into love and hop on board the Inter Miami train, they’d love to have you.