2023 Leagues Cup Final: Inter Miami 1 (10)-(9) 1 Nashville SC
The South Florida side was crowned champions after a nail-biting penalty shootout that went 11 rounds
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It took surviving a nail-biter of a penalty shootout that went a tense 11 rounds, but Inter Miami and their fans can now say they are champions.
Inter Miami lifted the first trophy in team history on Saturday night after outlasting Nashville SC, 10-9, on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw in the Leagues Cup final at Geodis Park. Starting goalkeeper Drake Callender was the South Florida side’s hero in the nerve-wracking penalties, blasting home his attempt at the start of the 11th round before saving Nashville SC netminder Elliot Panicco’s ensuing effort.
Red-hot Lionel Messi opened the scoring in regulation with a wonderful strike that found the top left corner after 23 minutes, but Nashville SC pulled level through a Fafa Picault header off a corner kick in the second half.
Inter Miami finished the first edition of the Leagues Cup unbeaten at 5-2-0, and Messi became the all-time title winner after collecting his 44th career cup. Messi also ended up as the tournament’s top scorer and best player after scoring 10 goals in those seven matches, each of which he tallied in. Callender was named the best goalkeeper.
Inter Miami: Lionel Messi 23’
Nashville SC: Fafa Picault (Sam Surridge) 57’
PENALTIES
Inter Miami: Lionel Messi — Goal (1-0)
Nashville SC: Hany Mukhtar — Goal (1-1)
Inter Miami: Sergio Busquets — Goal (2-1)
Nashville SC: Randall Leal — Miss (2-1)
Inter Miami: Leonardo Campana — Goal (3-1)
Nashville SC: Anibal Godoy — Goal (3-2)
Inter Miami: Kamal Miller — Goal (4-2)
Nashville SC: Walker Zimmerman — Goal (4-3)
Inter Miami: Victor Ulloa — Miss (4-3)
Nashville SC: Sam Surridge — Goal (4-4)
Inter Miami: Sergii Kryvtsov — Goal (5-4)
Nashville SC: Shar Moore — Goal (5-5)
Inter Miami: Jordi Alba — Goal (6-5)
Nashville SC: Daniel Lovitz — Goal (6-6)
Inter Miami: Diego Gomez — Goal (7-6)
Nashville SC: Lukas MacNaughton — Goal (7-7)
Inter Miami: David Ruiz — Goal (8-7)
Nashville SC: Sean Davis — Goal (8-8)
Inter Miami: DeAndre Yedlin — Goal (9-8)
Nashville SC: Jacob Shaffelburg — Goal (9-9)
Inter Miami: Drake Callender — Goal (10-9)
Nashville SC: Elliot Panicco — Miss (10-9)