Lionel Messi scored a screamer and won his first trophy in North American soccer as Inter Miami beat Nashville on penalties (10-9) after their final ended 1-1 in 90 minutes.
The World Cup winner from Argentina gave Miami the lead in the 24th minute with a spectacular shot into the top corner, but Nashville’s Fafa Picault equalized in the second half.
Messi struck the post, and Miami’s Leonardo Campana missed a last-second opportunity to win the game in regulation. As a result, the game went to a shoot-out, which culminated in a duel between the two goalkeepers and Miami’s Drake Callender saving Elliot Panicco’s shot.
Messi struck the post, and Miami’s Leonardo Campana missed a last-second opportunity to win the game in regulation. As a result, the game went to a shoot-out, which culminated in a duel between the two goalkeepers and Miami’s Drake Callender saving Elliot Panicco’s shot.
When Messi joined Miami a month ago, they were dead last in Major League Soccer and in their third season of existence. But Messi, along with fellow Spaniards Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, completely changed the squad and helped them go on a seven-game unbeaten streak to win the League Cup.
Co-owner David Beckham, who created the club, said he was stunned by the way the former Barcelona trio had been able to bring about change so quickly.
“It is like a movie, you watch these players play and it is, emotionally, everything about their play is beautiful,” he said.
Seven-times Ballon d’Or winner Messi has now scored 10 goals in seven games in the pink shirt of his new club and on Wednesday has the chance to reach another final when his team takes on Cincinnati in the semi-final of the US Open Cup.
This was not the dominant, entertaining Miami that in the past month has lit up the tournament, featuring MLS and Mexican Liga MX clubs, but the win was sweet 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.
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“We have infected the team with our spirit, our work, our character and experience. We are making a solid team … And then we have Leo, who makes a difference because he’s the best in the world.”
Nashville set out with the clear intention to limit the impact of Busquets and by extension Messi and they were effective in forcing Miami to play a slower type of possession football, deeper in their own half.
Gary Smith’s side sent an early warning that they could trouble Miami at set-pieces with Walker Zimmerman’s header from a Lukas MacNaughton corner forcing Callender into a low save.
Messi dropped deeper and looked for openings in the home defense as Miami probed.
However, Robert Taylor twisted and turned and hit a ferocious drive that Nashville keeper Elliot Panicco did well to keep out because Walker Zimmerman was managing the back line well.
Miami took the lead after three minutes, and the catalyst for their breakthrough was predictable.
After Taylor’s attempted inside pass was stopped, Messi sped by Zimmerman and created enough space to his left to unleash an unstoppable drive from more than 25 yards out that sailed into the top corner and past the defenseless Panicco.
Miami appeared to be in complete control and played with a swagger-like assurance, but the reality was otherwise.
Messi went close to another Hollywood ending with a 71st-minute shot from just outside the box which shaved the outside of the post.
But in the final seconds, his Ecuadorian team-mate Campana should have won the game for Miami when he rounded Panicco but from a tight angle could only hit the post with the goal at his mercy.
Then came penalties and with all 10 outfield players having shot, with one miss for each side, it came down to the keepers and Callender kept his cool with his shot before denying Panicco and launching the celebrations.
While the players sprayed champagne in the locker room, Argentine coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino was in a reflective mood.
“The most important thing we had to do is put together a team while we were playing a seven-game tournament, and that’s very difficult to do,” he said.
“We now have greater clarity about what the future may hold for us after winning this title in 30 days.”
AFP
