CINCINNATI (AP) — Lionel Messi had two assists and converted in a shootout to lead Inter Miami 5-4 over MLS-leading Cincinnati on penalties following a 3-3 draw on Wednesday night and in a US Open Cup final against Houston.
Miami went undefeated in eight games, with Messi heading into his Major League Soccer debut with the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. The 36-year-old, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, joined the team last month and led it to the Leagues Cup title.
Cincinnati led 2–0 on goals from Luciano Acosta in the 18th and Brandon Vazquez in the 53rd, before Messi set up goals from Leonardo Campana in the 68th minute and the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Josef Martínez put Miami ahead 3–2 after three minutes, but Yuya Kubo tied the score in the 114th minute.
Messi made Miami’s first attempt in the shootout and the teams were perfect for four rounds. Herons goalkeeper Drake Callender saved Nick Hagglund’s kick in the fifth round, and Ben Cremaschi got his PK to send Miami to another tournament final.
Houston won the other semi-final, beating visiting Salt Lake 3-1 in overtime. The Dynamo conceded goals from Héctor Herrera in the fifth minute of stoppage time of the first half, Adalberto Carrasquilla in the 105th and Luis Caicedo five minutes into the second extra time. Anderson Julio scored the tying goal in the 64th.
Miami will host the final on September 27.
Cremaschi was quickly met by his teammates after the ball hit the back of the net, and they danced around in a group circle on the field as the Cincinnati players knelt in disappointment.
“I think we lacked sharpness to get through that first half,” Miami coach Tata Martino said through an interpreter. “We were one step ahead. I saw a team with one gear less than our rival. The beauty of all this is that we didn’t let our shoulders down, but persevered. It’s not easy to turn things around in a semi-final like we did. We adapted a lot. I think we controlled the game well in the second half. And the penalties after that… If I had been so lucky with penalties for the rest of my career, it would have been a lot less stressful.’
Messi scored ten goals in seven League Cup appearances and was held scoreless for the first time since coming to Miami. His first assist came from a free kick and his second from a long cross into the penalty area set up Campana’s second goal from a header.
Before the penalty shootout, Messi gathered his teammates and appeared to give a speech. After Kubo made the first attempt, Messi placed his penalty low in the left corner, while back-up goalkeeper Alec Kann, who starts cup matches, ducked the other way.
“He’s a leader on the field and with the group he’s shown that for a long time, not just here at Miami but also at Argentina,” said Martino. “Fortunately, players are behind his leadership and enthusiasm in his response at any time, regardless of the circumstances. Today he showed it more as a conductor than as a finisher. You saw that with the pass late in the game, but he makes it difficult plays look easy.
Messi only tried to shoot just before the final whistle of extra time, an effort that was easily saved.
During the first half, FC Cincinnati had done well to close off the space when Messi got the ball.
“He makes the performance that matters, and that’s where he’s a difference maker,” said Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan. “I thought the lads did a pretty good job overall in the limited moments where he could be in dangerous spots and get us into trouble at times, drifting a bit further off target and becoming a playmaker. I thought we handled those moments down the back line pretty well and I thought the 1v1 moments and if we could double up we got a lot of those moments right to be able to win the ball so we knew it would are a tough challenge, but I thought overall the guys had good discipline in limiting a very elite player.
Acosta scored his fourteenth goal in all competitions, a header from Aaron Boupendza’s feed. A forward for the US national team, Vazquez scored from outside the penalty area after a low cross from former Atletico Madrid and Colombian international defender Santiago Arias.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, wide receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, and defenseman Sam Hubbard were in attendance and participated in the pre-game festivities.
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