Nashville 1-1 Inter Miami
David Beckham’s Inter Miami have won their first trophy since joining the Major League Soccer in 2020 and it was that man Lionel Messi who inspired his new team to a 2023 US Leagues Cup triumph.
Messi scored the opening goal in a match which finished 1-1 before a lengthy penalty shootout went the way of Inter Miami. It’s been an incredible journey since the World Cup winner arrived at the club just over two months ago. From the moment he scored a stunning free kick to beat Cruz Azul in his debut for the Americans, he has become a cult figure for his new team, taking the captain’s armband, continuing to score wonder goals and delivering a first piece of silverware to Miami.
He joined the club in June after leaving Paris Saint Germain after two seasons at the Parc des Princes, and Messi was followed by former Barcelona team-mates Sergio Busquets, who has been named vice captain, and Jordi Alba. Managing owner Jorge Mas said it had taken years of negotiations to bring Messi to Miami and all that work is already beginning to pay off. At the time, Messi said: “I’m very excited to start the next step of my career with Inter Miami. This is a fantastic opportunity and together we will continue to build this beautiful project.”
Music to Miami fans ears and they could hardly have dreamed how well things would pan out so quickly. While others have chosen to join the Saudi Pro League, the American league has attracted the biggest name of all.
At the showcase final in Nashville Messi scored a beauty in the 23rd minute, skipping past two Nashville defenders before curling a lovely strike into the corner. It was tough on the hosts who pushed for a leveller and they were eventually rewarded, early in the second half, when Fafa Picault saw his header deflected into the Miami net. Messi came so close to restoring Miami’s lead in the second half with another long range effort but his shot crashed back off the upright and the game went to penalties.
At 10-9, Miami keeper Drake Callender saved a shot from the Nashville stopper and the celebrations began, on the touchline in the Inter dugout and back home in the bars of Miami.
These are exciting times for the newest club in the league and fans can hardly wait for the MLS Easter Conference to start again when they hope Miami’s MLS 2023 results carry on in the same vein.
Messi won the Player of the Tournament Award while Callender was named Best Goalkeeper.
The Argentine legend is just seven games into his career in Miami and he has already proved how, at 36 years of age, he is as good as he ever was. And he’s the biggest name to join MLS since the great Pele appeared for New York Cosmos in the 1970s. Nashville coach Gary Smith said: “We were able to put ourselves in a position where we could have stole it. You’re looking at the greatest player on the planet possibly being the difference on what happened today.”
This Leagues Cup win was Messi’s 44th award in a glittering career (34 won with Barcelona), and that is more prizes than any other player has picked up in the history of the game. So with this latest title in his collection Messi is making history in a totally new environment and taking the MLS to a new level.
What next for Miami?
The American League continues to grow in stature, particularly since the arrival of Messi, Busquets and Alba, and we’ll bring you more news here at SBOTOP as the MLS kicks off again. And the action starts again this week, though Inter Miami’s next date is a US Open Cup date with Cincinnati on Wednesday. Their opponents are top of the Eastern Conference and this will be Inter’s biggest test so far.
Then Miami begin the long climb up the Easter Conference table. They are rock bottom in 15th and they need to reach ninth place, currently occupied by Chicago. That would be enough to earn a play-off place and keep Inter Miami’s season alive. The MLS 2023 betting odds reckon it’s a tall order but the way Messi has started and the momentum Miami have gained gives Beckham’s club every chance.
But they need to start winning pretty damn quickly. Miami kick off with a trip to New York on 27th August. The Red Bulls are in 11th place and pushing for a play-off. Then Messi and co return to Miami when they host Nashville, currently in fifth place.
It’s a chance for Nashville to exact some revenge… but I don’t fancy their chances.
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