In a nerve-wracking penalty kick contest, Inter Miami stays composed to turn away Nashville SC and win the Leagues Cup final
By Chuck Booth
• 1 min read
Lionel Messi scored in the 23rd minute and Inter Miami defeated Nashville SC in a penalty shootout 10-9 to win the Leagues Cup and lift the club's first trophy in history after finishing in regulation 1-1 Saturday night at GEODIS Park. Drake Callender had quite the night, scoring an own goal, saving two penalties in the shootout, and making the crucial take past Nashville's keeper Elliot Pannico to give Miami the victory. Callender was also named the keeper of the tournament.
Messi was named player of the tournament and won the Golden Boot after scoring 10 goals and assisting on one more in what was a dominating if not magical introduction to soccer fans in the United States. It is also the 44th trophy of Messi's illustrious career, an all-time record.
In a clash between expansion clubs that joined the league at the same time, Messi proved to be the difference -- just like he has been since joining Inter Miami -- by opening the scoring in the first half. Nashville's Fafa Picault would create a chance from a corner late in the match that led to Callender's own goal before Leonardo Campana missed a chance at an open net that could've won the match for the Herons, who were composed enough in the penalty shootout to see the job through.
It was a game that had something for everyone as Nashville were the first team to hold Inter Miami scoreless for the first 20 minutes of a game that Messi started, but his individual brilliance always shines through. Scoring through five Nashville defenders, Messi's goal was unstoppable even though everyone was well positioned.
This may be Miami's first trophy in history but they're hoping to add to it quickly with the Herons playing in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 23 against FC Cincinnati. Miami will be looking to qualify for the playoffs when their Major League Soccer regular season play resumes on Aug. 26 versus the New York Red Bulls. During this short period, Messi has already raised expectations for the club as the sky is the limit for what they can do.
Listen below and followIn Soccer We Trust: A CBS Sports Soccer Podcastwhere your three favorite former USMNT players cover all things related to the beautiful game as it pertains to the United States.
Here are a few moments from the match:
Drake Callender had a day
With an excellent shootout by both teams, it's only right that it came down to both keepers in the end and Callender was composed to complete an excellent game. Despite scoring an own goal, Callender made five saves in the box while also dealing with numerous Nashville set plays.
It could've ended in regulation
Leagues Cup has had quite a few wild moments but going from Sam Surridge almost winning the match at one end to Leonardo Campana rounding the keeper on the other end but not finding the back of the net, it was quite an ending prior to the penalty shootout. But with both teams able to keep their composure, it still sharpened them for an excellent shootout.
Can't miss penalties
These teams will meet again on Aug. 30 and they could also square off in the Eastern Conference playoffs if both qualify. If that happens, be sure to get your popcorn ready.
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Champions
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Panicco's take is saved and Miami are Leagues Cup champions!
Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅✅✅X
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅✅
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Callender finishes like a field player!
Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅✅
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Shaffelburg is Nashville's final field player and it's good
Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅
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Yedlin just keeps his take in
Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅
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Sean Davis just beats Callender
Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅✅✅
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Supreme composure for Ruiz
Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅✅✅
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Down the middle for MacNaughton too
Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅✅
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Down the middle for Gomez and this is excellent
Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅✅
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Lovitz fires it right into the upper 90
Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅
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Alba sends Panicco the wrong way
Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅
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Moore keeps this going
Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅
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Kryvtsov makes no mistake
Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅
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Surridge extends this shootout
Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X
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Ulloa's take is saved by Panicco and we'll keep going
Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X
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Zimmerman takes this to sudden death
Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅
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Miller ekes it into the net and Miami are 4/4
Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅
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Godoy makes his penalty
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Inter Miami: ✅✅✅
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Campana freezes the keeper and finishes strong
Nashville SC: ✅✅X
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅
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Leao's take is saved by Drake Callender!
Nashville SC: ✅✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅
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Sergio Busquets eases it into the net for Miami sending the keeper the wrong way
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Inter Miami: ✅✅
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Hany Mukhtar finishes with confidence
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Inter Miami: ✅
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An easy penalty finish for Lionel Messi
Nashville SC:
Inter Miami: ✅
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End to end stuff
Surridge has a shot on goal at one end but Leonardo Campana had a 1v1 to win it for Miami and wasn't able to get his shot on goal after beating the keeper sending the match to penalties. It's the second time that Miami has hit the post in the second half showing that this is a game of inches.
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Neither team has lost a shootout in this tournament
Four minutes remaining regulation and if it's level at 90 we're heading to penalties. Miami has won their shootout while Nashville has also won their two shootouts so one of those records will come to an end if the match gets there.
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Robert Taylor won't continue
it's quite a blow for Inter Miami as Taylor can't continue and Ruiz will enter. After scoring a goal against the Union in Miami's last match, Ruiz may be able to catch Nashville on the break for a winner in the last ten minutes.
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DRAKE CALLENDER COMES UP BIG
Nashville were in space as Surridge put a shot on target but Callender got down to save it before Mukhtar's follow-up goes out for yet another corner kick for Nashville.
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Messi off the post!
He was close to his second goal of the match as Nashville lost him in space for just a second. Miami will have more chances but with only 18 minutes remaining, it isn't on the Herons' side.
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Changes coming for Miami
Diego Gomez and Leonardo Campana will enter for Josef Martinez and Benjamin Cremaschi as Inter Miami looks to end the match in regulation. Fresh legs and the ability to play a more direct style could prove to be the difference.
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Nashville SC 1, Inter Miami 1
Nashville makes their corner kick count via a shot from Fafa Picault that was turned in as an own goal by Drake Callender. It was quite a chaotic corner with Nashville toeing the line for being offside but it will count after bouncing around the box.
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