Seattle Sounders Triumph Over Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in Leagues Cup Final

In a thrilling Leagues Cup final at Seattle's Lumen Field, the hosts, Seattle Sounders, emerged victorious with a 3-0 win over Inter Miami. The Sounders became the first team in history to win every trophy available to them in North America.

The night started off on a high note for Seattle, with Osaze De Rosario scoring the opening goal in the 26th minute. Five minutes later, Paul Rothrock added to the lead, scoring just after Alex Roldan's goal. Roldan sealed the deal six minutes from time, converting a penalty to ensure a comfortable victory for the Sounders.

Inter Miami, who were looking to win the Leagues Cup for the second time in three years, struggled to find their footing against the more threatening Seattle team. All 10 efforts at goal from Inter were off target, while Sounders keeper Andrew Thomas enjoyed a relatively quiet night due to Inter's missed shots.

The game was not without its controversies. Miami's Yannick Bright was deemed to have brought down an attacker inside the box, resulting in a penalty for Seattle. Inter were denied what they felt was a clear penalty for a handball late in the second half. The incident escalated, with Inter's star player, Luis Suarez, involved in a brawl and seen spitting on a Sounders staff member during the incident.

Despite being reduced to ten men after receiving a red card during the 2023 Leagues Cup quarterfinal match against Tigres UANL, Javier Mascherano, the head coach of Inter Miami, continued to coach from the VIP seats above the bench. Mascherano dominated from a possession standpoint, with his team enjoying 62% of the ball, but it was not enough to overcome Seattle's offensive prowess.

With this victory, Seattle Sounders have solidified their status as one of the top teams in North America, while Inter Miami continue their search for silverware since winning the Leagues Cup in Mascherano's first season two years ago. The Leagues Cup final served as a reminder of the high stakes and intense competition in the North American football scene.