Inter Miami overcame FC Cincinnati in a penalty shootout to complete a comeback triumph in the US Open Cup semifinal on Wednesday, only days after Messi and his team won the Leagues Cup.
Luciano Acosta’s goal for FC Cincinnati in the 18th minute of play at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati opened the scoring.
Brandon Vazquez’s goal from just outside the box in the 53rd minute gave FC Cincinnati a bigger advantage in the 53rd minute.
As the players celebrated on the field, the stadium’s fans offered a thunderous standing ovation to the MLS’s top team this season. Inter Miami then began its comeback, though.
Miami forward Leonardo Campana headed in a Messi free kick to trim the deficit to one goal. And with only one minute of added time remaining, Messi floated a cross into the box, where Campana once more came through with a goal to draw the game.
Inter Miami striker Josef Martinez then struck gold and scored four minutes into extra time to give the club its first lead of the match – but FC Cincinnati would not go away easily.
In the 114th minute, Yuya Kubo tied the score at 3-3 to force penalties.
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With both teams converting their first four spot kicks, Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender saved Nick Hagglund’s shot, then midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi scored to leave it at 5-4 and send Inter Miami to its second final in club history.
Even though Messi didn’t score a goal for the first time in his short Inter Miami career, he tallied two assists in the win.
Inter Miami will face Houston Dynamo in the US Open Cup final on September 27.
Soccer fans weren’t the only ones who wanted to get a glimpse of “Messi Mania.” The NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase were at the match, cheering on FC Cincinnati.
Messi’s next match is scheduled for Saturday when he makes his MLS regular season debut as they travels to Harrison, New Jersey, to take on the New York Red Bulls.
Lionel Messi now has 13 goal contributions in just 8 games for Inter Miami…
The club are currently on an 8-match winning streak, have lifted their first ever trophy and are now in another final!
Talk about impact 🐐 pic.twitter.com/UmKibFrquK
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 24, 2023
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