Inter Miami Player Ratings: 1-1 Draw (10-9 Penalty Kick Win) vs. Nashville SC

Drake Callender turned in a memorable performance while Lionel Messi scored yet again to help Inter Miami win its first title

NASHVILLE — After three-and-a-half years, the freedom to dream became a championship reality.

Inter Miami fulfilled a major goal this past Saturday night after being coronated as champions for the first time in franchise history via a nail-biting penalty kick win over hosting Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup final. The tense tussle was typical of a tight championship game, with each team playing better in one half, but the South Florida side prevailed thanks to a heroic and memorable goalkeeping performance from Drake Callender.

Lionel Messi also chipped in with his latest wonder-goal, Sergii Kryvtsov delivered on the big stage with a remarkable showing, and several other players turned in solid shifts in the pressure-packed match to help bring the first piece of hardware to Inter Miami’s trophy cabinet.

INTER MIAMI PLAYER RATINGS

Drake Callender (9) — The best performance of his young career, rifling his winning penalty kick with his trademark calmness before making the title-clinching save. He was also massive during regulation, making five good saves.

DeAndre Yedlin (6) — A serviceable shift in which he was not really troubled defensively while also not serving as much of a threat when going forward.

Sergii Kryvtsov (8.5) — Shut off for just a split second when marking Sam Surridge on the equalizing set piece, but was rock-solid otherwise in his best Inter Miami showing to date.

Kamal Miller (7.5) — Anticipated well to cut off passes and make clearances while having some trouble on individual battles in transition. He refrained from doing his big fortitude gesture on his well-taken penalty this time despite it being even more justified.

Jordi Alba (6) — Never really got going offensively, failing to provide the type of service that has become expected of him. Defensively, he did his part.

Benjamin Cremaschi (6) — Brough his usual industry and range to the midfield, hustling and scrapping with dogged determination.

Sergio Busquets (6.5) — May have been dealing with heavy legs from the start, as he mis-hit several routine passes while also playing some great penetrating balls forward. His sublime feed over the top in the dying seconds deserved a game-winning finish.

Dixon Arroyo (5.5) — Made some timely interventions in a respectable defensive showing, but also gave the ball away cheaply on the play that led to the equalizing corner in a sign that he could also be fatiguing.

Robert Taylor (5.5) — Inter Miami’s attack was more dangerous when he came alive, but the problem was that that happened too few times. Another player possibly dealing with tired legs.

Josef Martinez (4.5) — Provided his usual layoffs to the collective game without ever looking a goal threat, though he was largely starved of service.

Lionel Messi (7) — Produced another moment of brilliance with his solo effort on the opener and was denied of another go-ahead goal by the post, but he was largely held in check by a Nashville SC defense that forced him to pick up the ball in deeper areas.

Diego Gomez (5.5) — Was not at his sharpest, but the substitute helped bring some defensive steel to a team that needed it during the final half-hour.

Leonardo Campana (3.5) — He can thank his teammates for not being the scapegoat, as his awful miss on a clean 1-on-1 on the game’s final play could have come back to haunt him.

Victor Ulloa (4.5) — Another player indebted to his teammates after failing to convert a potential cup-winning penalty, which could have been a defining moment. He did pick up a heads-up yellow card for smartly making contact on Hany Mukhtar on a dangerous transition play in regulation, though.

David Ruiz (5.5) — Came into the match and brought some energy to help better protect a back line that was being tested.

Gerardo Martino (5.5) — Smartly freshened things up with substitutions that shored things up defensively, but was out-coached during regulation as Inter Miami was largely limited to Messi’s magic in the attack before being crowned champion during that tense penalty shootout.