Messi Magic Propels Miami into U.S. Open Cup Final with Thrilling Victory

During a dramatic night in Ohio, Inter Miami overcame a 2-0 deficit and defeated FC Cincinnati on penalties to advance to the U.S. Open Cup final. Lionel Messi sparked the comeback.

With less than a minute of stoppage time left, Messi fired a second beautiful cross onto the head of attacker Leonardo Campana to save his team and force overtime.

After defeating Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup final on Saturday to win the first trophy in club history, Miami was in its second shootout in four days.

Messi converted a penalty kick, but once again it was goalkeeper Drake Callender who emerged as the winner by stopping Nick Hagglund’s only attempt in the shootout before Benjamin Cremaschi netted the winning attempt.

Miami won the Leagues Cup thanks to Messi, who had 10 goals in eight games. But, it was a different No. 10 from Argentina who delivered the opening blow on Wednesday at TQL Stadium.

When he poked the ball in off the post in the 18th minute against a Messi-led Miami club, Luciano Acosta, who is second in the MLS scoring rankings, made Cincinnati the first opponent to do so.

Within the first eight minutes of the second half, Cincinnati extended their lead. U.S. international attacker Brandon Vázquez completed a sweeping breakaway with a precise, powerful finish that would have made Messi happy.

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From Struggles to Victory

Miami’s seven games in a row that helped it win an unexpected championship had also taken a toll on the team, forcing Martino to make four changes to his starting lineup and a formation switch as it attempted to go to another final.

Miami struggled over a large portion of the game and only managed one attempt on goal in the opening 65 minutes, which was set up by Messi. Martino’s three substitutions gave his squad some life, but Messi once more made critical contributions.

For the first time while wearing a Miami jersey, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was held without a goal, but this time, it was his assists that caused the problem.

First, in the 68th minute, Campana headed in a perfectly placed free kick from him to make the score 2-1 and give Miami some hope.

But as the game reached 90 minutes, it appeared like Messi would soon suffer his first loss as a Miami player. The World Cup winner, though, had other plans. In the seventh of the eight additional minutes, Campana dove to head home another magnificent left-footed cross from the player.

Martinez’s opening goal in extra time appeared to have dealt Cincinnati the death punch as the tide had turned. Cincinnati’s second equalizer gave the fervent home crowd, which had been booing Messi at every touch, hope. Miami, though, would not be ignored.

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Source: ABC News