On Penalties: Messi’s Inter Miami Reaches the Final of the 1 US Open Cup

Lionel Messi found a way to send the game into extra time with two assists to Leonardo Campana to make it 2-2.
CINCINNATI – It seemed that fatigue or opponents began to discover and avoid tricks and the magic disappeared for Inter Miami, although thousands of fans hoped it was fleeting.

But Leonardo Campana found a way through with two assists late on to send the game into extra time before Lionel Messi won his second on penalties.

Joseph Martinez scored the game-winner in overtime, but FC Cincinnati equalized late through Yuya Kubo.

Thus, Lionel Messi has remained undefeated since arriving in the United States, better for his thousands of fans, he taught that even on his worst days in football, he just needs a spark to give his team a chance to win.

Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba continued their pursuit of a second title since joining the team in a less spectacular and dominant third team, who looked visibly tired, just like his team-mates, after eight games. 32 days.

Luciano Acosta opened the scoring in the 18th minute and Brandon Vazquez seemed to seal the score at 53 at TQL Stadium in downtown Cincinnati, much to the delight of a good portion of the 25,513 fans who paid for tickets to the US Open Cup semifinal.

Miami will play in the finals of the US Open Cup, the oldest tournament sanctioned by US Soccer at 108 years old. He will face the winner of the match between Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo on September 27.

It looked like the League Cup crown they won last Saturday and the marathon games in hot and humid weather were taking their toll, although coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino made four changes to the starting formation compared to one. He faced Nashville SC: Leonardo Campana, Diego Gomez, Tomas Aviles, Jean Motta.

Busquets looked tired almost from the start and Alba was slow to start to pile on the wing for the damage done during the League Cup.

Avilés and Mota looked out of rhythm with their teammates, normal if one considers that this was the first game in which they were active since signing.

Gomez, like his chances in the League Cup, is too nervous, vague and lacks ideas on the pitch to attack and defend.

Either way, Inter Miami dominated the first half, with nearly 70 percent possession, as Cincinnati waited for the goal.

In the second half, it looked like Miami had completely collapsed after Vazquez’s goal, until Messi fed a ball to Campana, who finished perfectly for the goal.

Inter looked to be improving from there, but once again the home side had a chance to finish Inter on the counter attack.

In the 74th minute, referee Joseph Dickerson ruled out a goal with a hand that sealed FC Cincinnati’s ticket to the finals.

Inter Miami began to improve with the addition of Robert Taylor (Miller), Joseph Martinez (Gomez), David Ruiz (Mota), Fakudo Farias (Yedlin) and Noah Allen (Aviles) as Martino ordered five substitutions in the second half. . .

In the 94th minute, Messi again served for Campana, who sent the game into extra time, where Martinez quickly dispatched the home team.

Miami will visit the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, in what will be Messi’s first game of the MLS regular season.

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 Inter Miami lost 2-0 against Cincinnati and ended up winning in the penalty shootout after 3-3 of 120 minutes to qualify for the final of the US Open Cup.