NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Lionel Messi scored early in regulation and converted the first shot in penalty kicks as Inter Miami CF defeated Nashville SC 10-9 on penalties in the Leagues Cup final on Saturday night.
Messi scored for the 10th time in seven games since joining Inter Miami — all in the Leagues Cup competition — converting in the 23rd minute.
The ball landed at Messi’s feet after teammate Robert Taylor’s pass was blocked. Messi dribbled past Nashville defender Walker Zimmerman and unleashed a bending shot from outside the penalty box into the top left corner of the goal. The diving goalkeeper Elliot Panicco had no chance to save the ball.
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Messi was not very influential before he scored the goal, and the crowd booed him every time he touched the ball. But the stadium erupted in cheers when the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who led Argentina to last year’s World Cup crown, scored.
Nashville tied the game in the 56th minute when Fafa Picault’s header off a corner kick went past Miami’s Benjamin Cremaschi and past goalkeeper Drake Callender.
Messi had a shot from the spot that he scored earlier in the 71st minute, but it hit the post as the teams played to a 1-1 draw in regulation.
Miami striker Leonardo Campana had a chance to win the game in the final game of regulation, but his sliding shot on an open goal hit the post. Messi held his head in his hands as the ball trickled out of play.
Messi calmly converted the first shot in penalties, and Callender scored the go-ahead PK to seal the title.
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“It’s a great honor to play a role in our first win in a final,” Callender said. “It’s unreal. It’s so emotional. This team works so hard every day, every day to be able to do something like this on a night like this. And for it to come to an end, it’s amazing to see the Grit, just believing in what we can do. It’s something special and I’m just blessed to be a part of it.”
Callender said he tried to stay as calm as possible through 11 rounds of penalties.
“I have to stay focused, breathe through it, stay as calm as possible,” he said. “I mean, this atmosphere here tonight was electric. So I embraced the moment and I just believed in the work that I put in and the repetitions that I put in leading up to that moment, and it just ended.”
Messi mania gripped the Music City after Nashville SC advanced to the final against Miami with a win over Monterrey in the Mexican league on Tuesday. Ticket prices spiked after they went on sale the next day but fell somewhat in the days leading up to the game. The cheapest seats still cost several hundred dollars. A capacity crowd of 30,109 filled Geodis Park.
“I have to say from where I’m sitting, I feel like we can put ourselves in a position at the end where we can steal it,” Nashville boss Gary Smith said after the game. “I thought we were a slightly better side. You’re looking at, again, the greatest player on the planet which is probably the difference in what happened today.
“But if you look at the whole tournament and, and what Miami has done as part of other teams, the confidence they played, [I’m] incredibly proud of what men do. And of course, to come back and get ourselves on level terms and look to try and win the game as well, in a really good ending.
Nashville native Reese Witherspoon carried the ball in the game and two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo took some shots on goal before the game. Both are minority owners of Nashville SC.