Lionel Messi is aiming to lead Inter Miami to their first trophy in club history against Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup final.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Nashville’s run to the final: Group stage matchday 2
(Photo: Getty Images)
Having won their first game, Nashville hosted Mexican side Toluca from a position of strength on matchday two. A back-and-forth affair saw seven goals scored, with Walker Zimmerman, Fafa Picault and Luke Haakenson getting on the scoresheet for the hosts.
They led 1-0 and 2-1 in the first half, but saw Toluca take the lead for good with a pair of goals right before half-time. Haakenson’s goal pulled them back within one with 20 minutes to space, but Toluca held on for a 4-3 win.
Nashville had to wait as matchday three played out to see if they would advance, but with Toluca beating Colorado 4-1, Nashville advanced in second place in the group.
Group Central 4 – final standings
- Toluca: 6 pts
- Nashville SC: 3 pts
- Colorado Rapids: 0 pts
Nashville’s run to the final: Group stage matchday 1
(Photo: Getty Images)
Nashville SC were drawn alongside MLS’ Colorado Rapids and Liga MX’s Toluca in Group Central 4. They began their Leagues Cup campaign at home, playing host to the Rapids.
After a goalless first half, Hany Mukhtar — who scored a league-high 13 goals in the first half of the MLS regular season — got the hosts on the board with his strike in the 57th minute. Jacob Shaffelburg doubled Nashville’s lead eight minutes later before Andrew Gutman pulled a goal back for Colorado, but that proved to be a consolation as Nashville won 2-1.
Catch up on Messi in Miami
Catch up on Messi Miami mania with the best of The Athletic‘s reporting:
Hello and welcome
Hello and welcome to The Athletic‘s live coverage of Lionel Messi’s seventh game for Inter Miami. Tonight the club travels to Tennessee to take on Nashville SC in the final of the Leagues Cup. It’s an opportunity for either club to win the first trophy in franchise history — each are in their fourth season in MLS.
We will have the build-up, live updates from Geodis Park as they happen, and all the post-match reaction on what will be a historic night for one of these clubs.
