Inter Miami 3-3 Cincinnati ( 5-4 on pens): Lionel Messi fairytale continues as The Herons book a spot in the US Open Cup final with ANOTHER penalty shootout win

Messi’s madness looked unstoppable on Wednesday night as Inter Miami resumed cup form where it left off; with a penalty shootout win.

Inter Miami had lifted its first-ever Leagues Cup final trophy on Saturday night, but David Beckham’s side kept their chances of a second alive with a penalty shootout victory over FC Cincinnati in the US Open Cup semi-final .

Luciano Acosta opened the scoring for the MLS leaders before Brandon Vazquez doubled the lead in the second half.

Leonardo Campana handed the visitors a lifeline when he pulled one back after a cross from Messi. Yet the World Cup winner still looked set to face his first defeat in an Inter Miami shirt.

But that wasn’t the script since the Messi miracle happened in Miami and Wednesday wasn’t going to be any different.

Just like he had done on his debut, the Argentinian provided one last magical moment. In the seventh minute of extra time, Messi received the ball on the edge of the penalty area and delivered a sublime ball that Campana was able to get his head on again, sending the clash at death to extra time.

Josef Martinez appeared to have completed the comeback for The Herons, but Yuya Kubo forced the match to go to penalties – Miami’s second shootout in a week.

Once again Drake Callender was the hero in the clutch moment, saving Cincinnati’s fifth penalty before 18-year-old Benjamin Cremaschi stepped up to take the winning penalty to send Tata Martino’s men through to their second final.

More to follow.