FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – After winning it all in the 2023 Leagues Cup, Inter Miami now has their sights set on improving their position in the MLS. After an incredible performance in the Leagues Cup, Lionel Messi made his official MLS debut tonight. Along with teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets who also made their MLS debuts tonight.
From left to right – Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi arrive for their official MLS debut (Photo Credit – Daniel Calvelli)
The big news before tonight’s game was that both Goalkeeper Drake Callender and Midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi were called up to the US Men’s National Team to play in a series of international friendlies taking place next month. Cremaschi had a hot month in August coming up big in some key moments during Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup run.
Due to the weather conditions around Florida, wind speeds were a big factor in the opening half of the game giving Miami’s night a slower start than what we’ve been used to in the Leagues Cup matches, not even scoring once in the first half.
However, with a whole new set of 45 minutes to go, anything could happen, even a potential goal for Inter Miami to take the lead. Instead what we got was the complete opposite. We had ourselves a defensive standoff all match. Nashville almost broke the tie in the 69th minute only for it to be reversed with an offsides call. In the 90th minute, after seven minutes were added on for stoppage, Messi found himself with a penalty shot to seal the game. Nashville’s goalie Elliot Panicco who had played an amazing game up until this point, capped off a clean sheet performance by sending Messi’s penalty shot into the crowd, ending the game tied at zero.
Photo Credit to Christian Proscia
