Drama As Messi’s Inter Miami Beat FC Cincinnati To Reach US Open Cup Final

Four days after lifting the Leagues Cup, Lionel Messi is on the verge of winning another title after helping Inter Miami to reach US Open Cup final this Thursday morning.

Inter Miami came back from 2-0 down to beat FC Cincinnati in a penalty shootout after a thrilling 3-3 draw in the semifinal match to reach U.S Open final.

Miami fell 2-0 down to the physical MLS table-toppers in the first half, but Messi provided two assists to Leo Campana for a late comeback, with the second coming seven minutes deep into added time to draw level at 2-2.

Josef Martinez struck early in extra-time on a feed from substitute Benji Cremaschi to give Inter Miami the lead, but Yuya Kubo grabbed his own equalizer in the 114th minute to pull FC Cincinnati back and dragged the game into penalties.

In the penalty shootout, Callender stopped Nick Hagglund’s effort in the fifth round to set up the win, and Cremaschi scored his spot-kick to send Inter Miami through to yet another Cup final, just days after securing the club’s first-ever trophy and keep Messi unbeaten in pink.

Miami are now eight games unbeaten since Messi joined in mid-July. They will host the U.S.Open Cup final on September 27, earning that honour after Houston Dynamo FC beat Real Salt Lake Wednesday night in the other semifinal.