Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Drake Callender helps Inter Miami CF etch its name in history by triumphing over Nashville SC in a nail-biting 11-round penalty shootout at GEODIS Park on Saturday. 

This victory marked the conclusion of the first edition of the 2023 Leagues Cup, and Miami became the first team to lift the trophy. 

The dramatic showdown saw Inter Miami's goalkeeper Callender make crucial saves, including stopping the Nashville SC keeper Elliot Panicco's penalty kick attempt and also stepping up to score a penalty, which ultimately earned him the Man of the Match honor and further recognition with the Leagues Cup Best Goalkeeper award after sealing the victory against Nashville SC.

The early contest was a back-and-forth between both teams exercising caution in defense while seeking openings in attack.  

Miami found a breakthrough in the 23-minute when Messi received a deflected loose ball from Robert Taylor around 20 yards outside the box. He dribbled past the Nashville defender Walker Zimmerman to his left to execute a left-footed curler from the edge of the penalty area to the top left corner of the net to give Inter Miami its first lead in a final at 1-0. He scored his 10th goal in the Leagues Cup to keep his streak going since joining the Major League Soccer (MLS).

Coming out of the tunnel after halftime, Nashville responded quickly in the 56-minute on a header from a corner kick that Fafá Picault put on target that ricocheted off Miami's Benjamin Cremaschi and Callender, eluding him crossing the goal line.

Miami came close to taking the lead in the 71-minute with Messi's efforts, when his shot struck the post, and a golden opportunity in the final play of regulation when Leonardo Campana hit the post also on a sliding shot attempt failed to secure the victory, sending the match into penalties.

The two teams entered the penalty shootout rounds with their best lineups. Messi calmly converted his spot-kick, followed by great performances by both teams, with Miami converting an impressive 10 out of 11 of their spot-kicks into 11 rounds of penalties. 

However, Callender rose to heroic moments beyond the goalpost. The Miami keeper scored a crucial penalty and made the title-clinching save, showcasing nerves of steel throughout the high-pressure rounds, granting Inter Miami its first trophy in penalty 10-9 after a 1-1 draw in regulation.

"I just had to stay focused, breathe through it, stay as calm as possible," Callender said. "I mean, this atmosphere here tonight is electric. So I embraced the moment, and I just believed in the work I put in and the repetitions I put in leading up to that moment, and it just ended up going our way."

Inter Miami will return to action on Wednesday, Aug. 23, in Ohio to take on FC Cincinnati in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal at 7 p.m. ET at TQL Stadium.

Sports Action Rundown, Leagues Cup, Inter Miami CF, Drake Callender, Lionel Messi, Walker Zimmerman, Gasner Delvarin Jr.