Messi struck the post, and Miami’s Leonardo Campana missed a last-second opportunity to win the game in regulation. The game then went to a shoot-out, which culminated in a duel between the two goalkeepers and Miami’s Drake Callender saving Elliot Panicco’s shot.
The American goalie, who had made some crucial saves late in the game to keep his team in the game, was hurried to join in the celebration by Messi and his teammates.
Messi, together with fellow Spaniards Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, completely altered Miami, who were at the bottom of Major League Soccer when he joined them a month ago. Miami went on a seven-game unbeaten streak to win the League Cup.
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The club’s founder and co-owner David Beckham expressed his surprise at how swiftly the former Barcelona trio had been able to bring about change.Watching these athletes play is “like watching a movie; everything about their play is beautiful from an emotional standpoint,” he remarked.Seven-times Awarded the Ballon d’Or Messi has now scored 10 goals in seven games for his new squad, and on Wednesday, when his team plays Cincinnati in the US Open Cup semifinal, he has the opportunity to advance to a second final.
The victory was nonetheless delicious even if Miami was not the powerful, entertaining team that has dominated the tournament, which features teams from the MLS and Liga MX in Mexico, over the last month.”I’m thrilled to have won the club’s first championship in just one month. We are thrilled with how quickly the team is progressing, said midfielder Busquets.
With a shot from just beyond the box in the 71st minute that scraped the outside of the post, Messi came dangerously close to another Hollywood ending.Campana, a teammate from Ecuador, should have given Miami the victory in the waning seconds when he rounded Panicco but from a tight angle could only hit the post with the goal at his disposal.
It came down to the goalkeepers in the penalty shootout after all 10 outfield players had missed one shot each. Callender maintained his composure with his shot before denying Panicco and starting the celebrations.
Argentine coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino appeared contemplative as the players sprayed champagne in the dressing area.While competing in a seven-game tournament, he stated, “the most important thing we had to do was put together a team, and that’s very difficult to do.”
Our understanding of what the future might hold for us after capturing this title in 30 days has improved.
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