Inter Miami CF clinched the 2023 Leagues Cup championship after beating Nashville 1-1 (10-9), in an epic finale that reached 11 rounds of penalties on Saturday night (Sunday, Manila time) at the Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
Goalkeeper Drake Callender was the hero for Inter Miami as he broke the 9-all deadlock in the 11th round with his right-footed penalty kick past Nashville goalie Elliot Panicco.
Callender then returned to the defensive end as he blocked the left-foot penalty-tying attempt of Panicco, sealing the championship for Inter Miami.
Inter Miami took a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute courtesy of a conversion from Lionel Messi, but Nashville managed to tie the score in the second half via a 57th minute hit by Fafá Ficault.
In the penalties, Inter Miami drilled the first four penalties and had a chance to win it on the fifth hit, but Victor Ulloa missed on his kick, which allowed Nashville to tie the goals at 4-all.
The penalty kicks went on until the 10th round, with the score tied at 9-all, before Callender stepped up for Inter Miami defensively to clinch the championship.
