Inter Miami win Leagues Cup, Union clinch Champions Cup

MIAMI, Florida – Inter Miami are champions of the 2023 Leagues Cup after defeating Nashville SC 10-9 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in the Final on Saturday night at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee.

With the penalty shootout win, Inter Miami have secured their first ever title and a place in the Round of 16 of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. Nashville SC will kick off their 2024 Champions Cup campaign in Round One.

Argentina superstar Lionel Messi scored his 10^th goal in seven games with Inter Miami to finish as the tournament’s top scorer.

Just like he has done throughout the entire Leagues Cup, Messi was a difference maker in the first half and handed Inter Miami a 1-0 lead by collecting a ball outside the area and curling in a perfectly placed shot into the top left corner for the goal.

Nashville would regroup in the second half and they pulled even in the 57^th minute on a Fafa Picault header that deflected off of Inter Miami player Benjamin Cremaschi and into net to make it a 1-1 affair.

Messi nearly restored Inter Miami’s lead in spectacular fashion in the 71^st minute with a left-footed shot that rang off the post.

But most of the chances in the final quarter-hour fell for Nashville, who tested Inter Miami GK Drake Callender time and time again, yet the visiting shot-stopper held firm and almost allowed his side to get a last-second winner via Leo Campana, only for the ball to strike the post.

Matters had to be settled in a penalty shootout and from the spot, and Callender proved decisive, making two saves, including the title-clinching stop, to earn Inter Miami the crown.

In the Third-Place Match, the Philadelphia Union secured the third 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup berth from Leagues Cup with a 3-0 victory over Monterrey at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.

With the win, the Union have qualified for their third Champions Cup and will begin the tournament in Round One.

Philadelphia had a dream start, scoring just 30 seconds into the match to grab a 1-0 lead through Jesus Bueno, who finished from just a yard out.

The home side then doubled the advantage to 2-0 right before halftime on a goal from Mikael Uhre thanks in part to an inch-perfect pass from Jack McGlynn.

Veteran MF Alejandro Bedoya then polished off the 3-0 scoreline in the 69^th minute when a glancing header landed at his feet and he turned the shot into net.