Penalties give Messi the victory again and Inter Miami will play the final of the US Open Cup

Inter Miami beat Cincinnati FC on penalties in the semifinals of the US Open Cup at TQL Stadium and end up sealing their ticket to the grand final. The score ended even at three goals in the 120 minutes and on penalties those led by Martino took the 5-4 victory.

The goals for Cincinnati were scored by the Argentine Luciano Acosta against the 18 minutes into the first half and by the United States team, Brandon Vazquez at minute 53 of the second half. At minute 68 Leonardo Campana discounted a pass from Lionel Messi and Campana himself equalized when the game was already dying and sending the game to overtime.

In the extra time and at minute 103, the Venezuelan Josef Martinez scored for Inter Miami from a pass from Benjamin Cremaschi. For Cincinnati, the Japanese Kubo equalized the actions at minute 114. Benjamin Cremaschi scored the decisive penalty after a save by Callender and the pink team will play their second final in a week.

Inter Miami forgettable first half

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami couldn't figure out Gerardo Martino's scheme,

Former Boca Juniors, Luciano Acosta gave Cincinnati the lead at minute 18 of the first half, a score with which the first 45 minutes would end for the Inter Miami players to forget.

Lucho is the party ? | @fccincinnati@CBSSportsGolazo @TelemundoSports pic.twitter.com/gpW0gPwXOF

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) August 24, 2023

Electrifying second half between Cincinnati and Inter Miami

Inter Miami did not finish meeting in the second half and it was in the 53rd minute when the Mexican-American striker Brandon Vázquez increased the score for those led by Chris Albright. At minute 68, Leonardo Campana activated the hopes for the eleventh miamera with the discount at minute 68.

After seven minutes of replacement, Leonardo Campana put on the hero's cape and Messi's pass again placed the tie that the game was leading to the definition in extra time when the game was already dying and at minute 97.

ARE YOU KIDDING????@opencup madness out here | @ussoccer @MLS pic.twitter.com/Fp0jc5Li3x

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) August 24, 2023

The stretch between Miami and Cincinnati

Inter Miami came out with everything in the first half of extra time and with a Cincinnati that came out even, however it was the herons thanks to a goal by Josef Martínez who scored the third goal of the game from a pass from Argentine Benjamin Cremaschi.

That Old @InterMiamiCF Late Show ? pic.twitter.com/coEo9mwDFP— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) August 24, 2023

In the second half, Cincinnati was looking for him with everything, but Miami was not far behind, Tata Martino's changes took effect, however the game was not defined. And that was how the Japanese Kubo tied the tie at three in extra time, in a game that was truly crazy and full of emotions from start to finish and that would end up being defined through the kicks from the penalty mark.

In the penalty shootout, luck ended up tilting for Inter Miami with a score of 5-4 and with the decisive goal from Benjamin Cremaschi, after Callender's save. Now the pink cast will face the winner of the Houston Dynamo against Real Salt Lake in the final of the longest-running soccer tournament in the United States.