Trust Lionel Messi to deliver when it matters. The World Cup winner maybe is at the fag on of his career but his knack of scoring important goals is yet to diminish. This time, he did it in Leagues Cup Final.
Messi’s magic was on display again to the packed crowd at Geodis Park. The Argentinian’s inclusion in the Inter Miami team has created a huge buzz all over the United States and it is not devoid of reason.
Messi has started his MLS career on a brisk note, netting nine times in six matches of the Leagues Cup. He capped off his form with a peach of a goal in the final against Nashville. The sell-out crowd at Geodis Park was waiting for Messi to weave his magic. He delivered, and how!
It was the 23rd minute of the match. Inter Miami sprung an attack from the midfield with inter-changing passes. Messi received the ball in the edge of the box when the Inter Miami left winger’s pass was blocked by the Nashville’s defence. The ball came to Messi who was arriving from the right-wing. With a flurry of defenders between him and the goal, it seemed Messi magic would have to take a back-seat.
Instead, Messi produced a body feint and dribbled past a defender who came outside the box to block the shot. He still had a lot to do as there were five defenders inside the box. Messi unleashed a vicious curler from his left-foot which left the defenders of Nashville in no-mans-land. The Nashville goalkeeper couldn’t get anywhere near the ball even after diving at full stretch as the ball found the top corner of the goal.
Thereafter, it was time for the Argentinian’s signature celebration towards the corner flag with outstretched arms where he was joined by his teammates.
Inter Miami wins Leagues Cup on penalties
Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup on Sunday through a lengthy penalty shootout that went into sudden death. Both teams scored four out of five in the tie-breaker as it went to sudden death. Inter Miami converted the next six spot kicks from the spot as Nashville faltered on the last one.
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