NASHVILLE, TN — Nashville SC will host the Leagues Cup championship game Saturday.
They advanced to the final with a 2-0 victory Tuesday night at Geodis Park.
Now they also get two bonuses from the win. The immediate one is they will face Inter Miami and the great Lionel Messi in the title match.
Messi, acclaimed as both the world’s greatest soccer player and also arguably the best of all time,has been on fire since joining Inter Miami.
He’s scored nine goals in six games, including one Monday night in leading his team to a 4-1 victory over Philadelphia Union.
The win also gives Nashville SC an automatic berth in next year’s CONCACAF Champions League competition. A win Saturday puts them in the round of 16 for the Champions League competition.
But despite the score, Nashville SC had a tough game. Part of the problem was they had two goals nullified on offside calls. However that also evened out as CF Monterrey twice had players hit the crossbar with shots.
New striker Sam Surridge got his third goal since joining Nashville. Hany Muhktar assisted on his goal. FaFa Picault added the second goal late.
Goalkeeper Elliot Panicco made one diving save and preserved the shutout.
Though Nashville SC still has 10 MLS matches remaining, right now all attention is focused on Inter Miami and Lionel Messi coming to town.
Nashville SC’s scheduled Sunday MLS game against the New England Revolution has been rescheduled for later in the fall.
A time for Saturday’s title game had not yet been released at press time.