After falling behind 2-0, Inter Miami CF showed surprising resiliency to defeat FC Cincinnati in a dramatic penalty shootout on Wednesday.
Inter Miami will play the winner of the other semi-final game between Real Salt Lake and the Houston Dynamo in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup final. This will be made possible by the exciting contest.
The US Cup final is set to take place on September 27.
The appearance of Lionel Messi, who is regarded as one of the best soccer players in the world, added to the excitement surrounding the game. Luciano Acosta, the standout player for FC Cincinnati, scored the game’s first goal in the 18th minute. Messi’s perfectly placed assist resulted in a goal by Campana for Inter Miami in the 68th minute as a result of their resolute response.
The thrilling encounter saw Messi’s influence increase as the time ran out. He organized yet another vital play in stoppage time, helping Campana once more to tie the game at 2-2. During extra time, the tide turned in favor of Inter Miami when Josef Martinez’s strike gave them a 3-2 advantage.
Nevertheless, FC Cincinnati showed resiliency, and Yuya Kubo’s goal in the 114th minute brought the score to 3-3. After 120 minutes passed without a conclusion, the game entered a suspenseful penalty shootout.
In the shootout, both teams displayed excellent play, each scoring on their first four penalty penalties. Messi, who played a crucial part throughout the game, converted Inter Miami’s opening penalty. The decisive moment occurred when Inter Miami goalie Drake Callender stopped Nick Hagglund’s sixth penalty attempt for FCC. This gave Inter Miami’s Benjamin Cremaschi the chance to secure the victory, which he expertly achieved.
The captivating showdown drew significant attention in Cincinnati, attracting a crowd of 25,513 fans to the stadium. The game was graced by the presence of Cincinnati Bengals stars, including quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd, who showed their support by donning customized FC Cincinnati jerseys.
