Lionel Messi vs Nashville 2023 - Leagues Cup Final

Look at the numbers, right? The numbers say a ton about what Geodes Park is, but listen to this crowd right now. That is the biggest X factor for me, because the first five, 10, 15 minutes, can this home crowd remind inner Miami, Philadelphia didn't, Dallas didn't, that you are on the road. You are in our house. Here's the start of the same 11 for a third straight match. Why change what's working and why would you? Fafa Pico in for Jacob Schaffelberg and Sam Surridge makes his first start. Six games, nine of those from Lionel. Two teams came into MLS together in 2020. They've taken such different paths to this point. The league's come fine. Emotions are going to be high for Nashville up against Messi, up against Busquets. Football history has won a move from Sergio Busquets early on. And a second foul after about two minutes. And I know you felt it was too extreme, though, from Philadelphia, right? Trying to cut off Busquets and Messi as Messi finds Jordi Alba. Winner backs allow Busquets to drop a little deeper, provide that avenue. Up deep, almost plays a third center back in possession. But the deeper they want Lionel Messi from the goal, the better the problem. Arroyo then will sit through the middle and then naturally Messi will go find. This thing you want to do is turn it over in these spots to provide the space for Messi and Promesky to go forward. But in possession, three in the back with Alba and Jadlin playing almost as wingbacks. Cleared by Busquets. Now Shaq Moore around Lionel Messi. Moore! First shot of the game is wide. Well, and rarely do you see Busquets. Miami has allowed four non-penalty set-piece goals, the most of any team. Long throw from McNaughton, Zimmerman's header is saved by Kemp. The second half may be the best of his career. What they've had so much success doing for three and a half seasons. Here, he's as wide as you can be. Stretched Nashville out, poor as Paul Miller was forward. Jordi Alba into Robert Taylor. Robert Taylor! Panico makes the save to his right. Trying to get it to Promesky, a moment for Messi around Zimmerman. Messi! Maybe five critical touches in the first 24 minutes of the game. It doesn't matter, because if you're not quick, if you are not perfect and you allow, not matter. Hold on, so he's got three to go. Those defenders in La Liga. That's why the scoreline's 1-0. But don't lose the game before you get to halftime. Against this Inter Miami. You have to, buddy. Yeah. Lionel Messi, corner for Inter Miami. And what we mean by perfect, it's not to say any- Messi in. Panico as well, to turn away from Godoy. Leaves it for Lionel Messi. Sir is 20 minute goal. Lionel Messi, even 2-0, maybe more manageable. Slides it to Lovitz. Lovitz to the back post. Real rising up off of Miller and out for a corner. This is so good. Leaves it for Lionel Messi. And it has been non-stop winning for Lionel Messi at Inter Miami. Messi into Yedlin. Pico. A minute to give you an extra body on set pieces and a different profile up front. Messi cutting inside. Now into Arroyo, back heel to Busquets, and to Messi over to Arroyo. The game, by the way. Sergi Kristof. Absolutely. Every ball in, he's been a monster. Make Lionel Messi's 43, but it's not shabby. Certainly a player who knows about the moment. Knows it's Lionel Messi. Again, his 10th goal of this tournament. And what's interesting is, their schedule is so jam-packed. Telling Inter Miami. I think they need a little bit more quality, a little bit more purpose with the ball. These two teams meet in their first final with a chance at their first trophy. The reigning MVP, Lionel Messi, the best player in the world. Kramoski, Jordy Alba, cutting it back. Martinez! It was blocked by Zimmerman. Lionel Messi's having words with Joseph Martinez here because when Jordy Alba... Messi comes inside. Forces a misplay from Yedlin. Kramoski down, but it's Lovitz. Messi hopes he's going to come forward. He's thinking about it. Sets line into Messi. Bumped off the ball by 20 MLS referee of the year. Was in charge of last year's MLS Cup. Said something that was so eye-opening to me. And Lionel Messi in the 55th minute. Messi will drive it in. The guitar. Three matches and the fourth official in the final of the World Cup. Kramoski! Almost sneaking it into the back post. Well, that was an opportunity here to tie the game. Mokhtar flicked it off the... Tries to get it into Bawil. Jordy Alba stepped up to win it. Here, 23rd. What we believe will go down as an all-team. Nashville has that size advantage on... Expect the unexpected. He's going to go quick. He is going for goal, and he sends it. Jordy Alba back to Lionel Messi. Ruskatz gives it away right to Godoy. He's had himself an unbelievable... Godoy steps up. Minutes with the 11 was just under 300, less than Miami. Messi again! He took his moment in the first half, and he was inches away from giving Miami the lead back in the second. You just can't kick off ball watching, and that's what happens with Dax McCarty. Dax McCarty thinks he can pass him on, but he can't, and for the split second, you think... Messi. In towards cover, one of them, not the fastest player on the pitch right now. Back in the defensive, that is all they need, though. They took five shots, scored four goals against Philadelphia. Here's Miami. Jordy Alba, Lionel Messi. Bit of a heavy touch. Zimmerman into space for Mukhtar. Oh, he turns Miller! Mukhtar! Just wide to Messi. Messi coming forward. Slides it to Jordy Alba. Messi. Mukhtar pokes it away. Gionis Park rocking in the music city. Into Busquets. Leaves it for Messi. Gets away from a couple of... Surage. Mukhtar wanted it. He's on it. Mukhtar, the step over. Mukhtar! They say Callender got a touch. Absolutely. In the final minute of stoppage time. Surage! Gets settled. Campana wants it behind. Busquets for Campana. Moore got it wrong. Comes off. Campana. The best drama on Apple TV this summer has been Leagues Cup 2023. In the game, right? That's the first time that they actually played over the top, that they had a threat in behind. Finally. Here we go. We're headed to penalties to decide the inaugural Leagues Cup. Back over to Taylor. The goalkeeper's left against FC Dallas. He went to the goalkeeper's left. To begin the shootout, Lionel Messi against Elliot Panico. Waits for Panico to commit. Gives Miami the early... Busquets against Panico. Gets Panico to commit the wrong way. Campana. They will need him to make a save. Zimmerman to extend it. Leagues Cup. Nashville with life again. In Ukraine. Kristoff against Panico. To extend the shootout. Keep Nashville alive. Panico gets it perfectly. We have seen... He scores to go to the goalkeepers. Shappelberg scores. How about a game of goalie wars? Callender versus Panico. Automatic penalty. In round 11. Cup champions are... It's the 44th trophy in Lionel Messi's professional career. Now more than any player in the history of world football. 2023.