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Inter Miami CF vs FC Cincinnati
After dominating Leagues Cup, Inter Miami CF had another chance to put themselves in the second cup final within a month span. They visited FC Cincinnati who are Eastern Conference leaders for a chance to play in the U.S. Open Cup Final. This is an opportunity to bring home Miami's second title in club history in which they've already qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League through their Leagues Cup victory.
This match did not start off the way Miami wanted it to as it was the hosts who would challenge Miami's back line as they have been the last three matches. Luciano Acosta would capitalize in the box in the 18th minute to put the Ohio team up 1-0.
Things grew worrisome for Miami as Brandon Vazquez would hit a low shot in the 53rd minute to put Cincinnati up 2-0. When you have Lionel Messi on your team anything is possible and the substitution of Leonardo Campana into the match was a match changer.
Messi would connect with the Ecuadorian in the 68th minute from a set piece finding an unmarked header in the box to cut the deficit to 2-1. This meant game on and with Messi on the team so far we've seen this story before with how he can change a match around.
At the dying moments of stoppage time it would be Campana once again earning a brace off of another Messi assist to equalize the match 2-2. Miami would force Cincinnati into extra time with hopes of avoiding another penalty shootout.
The first 15 minutes of extra time would provide the lead for Miami with Benjamin Cremaschi linking up with Josef Martinez to make it 3-2. The hosts would crawl back through Yuya Kubo in the 114th minute to equalize 3-3.
The match would head to a penalty shootout where Miami failed to miss as well as another stop from Drake Callender to send Inter Miami CF to the U.S. Open Cup Final.
Next up for Inter Miami CF is a return to league play on the road visiting the New York Red Bulls at the weekend.
Written by: Daniel Torres
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