Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF celebrates after teammate Leonardo Campana scored his second goal against the FC Cincinnati during the second half in the 2023 US Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on 23 August, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio
Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF celebrates after teammate Leonardo Campana scored his second goal against the FC Cincinnati during the second half in the 2023 US Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on 23 August, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio
Football

Messi into another final after inspiring Miami comeback

AFPMiami, USA

Lionel Messi inspired Inter Miami to a second Cup final appearance since his arrival as they beat Cincinnati 5-4 on penalties after their US Open Cup semi-final ended 3-3 after extra-time.

Miami trailed 2-0 with 22 minutes left before Messi whipped in a free-kick from the left which was headed home by Leonardo Campana.

Then in the seventh minute of stoppage time Messi, from deep on the left, picked out Campana at the back post again and the Ecuadoran forward angled home his header to force extra-time.

Miami went ahead in the first period with Benjamin Cremaschi sliding an excellent pass into the path of Josef Martinez and the Venezuelan made no mistake with a clinical finish.

But Cincinnati bounced back in the second period with Japanese winger Yuya Kubo firing a right-foot shot into the far corner past the diving Drake Callender.

Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF passes the ball to teammate Leonardo Campana (not pictured) against the FC Cincinnati during the second half in the 2023 US Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on 23 August, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio

The teams were at 4-4 in the shoot-out when Callender saved Nick Hagglund's penalty for Cincinnati and Cremaschi converted to book Miami's place in the final.

Miami, who won the Leagues Cup on penalties against Nashville on Saturday, will face the winners of Wednesday's other semi-final between Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake.

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