Inter Miami One minute separated Lionel Messi and Inter Miami from suffering the first defeat of the Messi era.
Inter Miami Messi had his adversary exactly where he desired them.
Inter Miami Leo Campana’s second header of the game was assisted by Messi’s left foot, forcing overtime, and Inter Miami defeated FC Cincinnati 5-4 on penalties to win their U.S. Open Cup semifinal on Wednesday night.
After winning the Leagues Cup championship last Saturday, Inter Miami has improved to 8-0 under Messi and moves on to the U.S. Open Cup final.
Three minutes into the extra period, Josef Martinez scored to give Inter Miami its first lead of the match, 3-2. However, Yuya Kubo’s goal in the 113rd minute forced a shootout. The winning goal for Inter Miami was scored by 18-year-old Miami resident and Argentina national Benjamin Cremaschi, who replaced Nick Hagglund, who missed Cincinnati’s final kick.
When is the US Open Cup final?
In the U.S. Open Cup final, Houston Dynamo FC will play Inter Miiami.
The final will be played on Sept. 27.
Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake
In the other U.S. Open Cup semifinal on Wednesday, Houston defeated Real Salt Lake 3-1. After 90 minutes, the score remained tied at 1-1; however, the Dynamo scored twice in extra time to win.
IMF will host the U.S. Open Cup final as a result of Houston’s victory.
When is Inter Miami’s next game?
The next time Messi and IMF play won’t be delayed for long.
The New York Red Bulls will host IMF on Saturday for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff at Red Bull Arena. Inter Miami will be back on the field.
On Apple TV, the game will be televised.
Did Messi score today?
Messi failed to score for the first time in his IMF tenure.
Messi’s scoring streak stopped against Cincinnati after he scored 10 goals in his first seven games.
Nevertheless, Messi found yet another method to demonstrate his abilities as the sport’s best player.
Messi assists help Inter Miami come back against Cincy
In the 97th minute, Messi’s magical left foot struck once more, saving IMF from losing for the first time in the Messi era.
In the waning seconds of regulation, Messi floated a left kick into the area, and Campana scored his second header in stoppage time.
Messi dipped his head slightly to the left earlier in the game prior to a free kick that found Campana for the first time in the 68th minute.
How Benjamin Cremaschi helped Inter Miami win again
The 18-year-old Argentinean who was born and raised in Miami, Cremaschi, once again played a key role for IMF.
Cremaschi came on as a replacement during extra time and contributed right away to Martinez’s goal two minutes later, giving IMF a 3-2 advantage.
But after Hagglund missed Cincinnati’s final penalty attempt, their fifth penalty kick, the stakes grew even greater.
Cremaschi successfully converted the game-winning penalty kick for the second time since Messi joined IMF. On August 6, he did it to FC Dallas.
Cremaschi, who was interviewed by CBS’ Golazo Network after the game, remarked, “We’re living a dream and killing it.”
FC Cincinnati pushes Inter Miami to the brink
One minute from being the first club to hand Messi and IMF their first loss was Cincinnati, the best team in the MLS.
At TQL Stadium, Cincinnati supporters even started to celebrate after their team led for the first 97 minutes of this game.
FC Cincinnati led 2-0 for the majority of the game thanks to goals from Argentine midfielder Luciano Acosta in the 18th minute and right-footed striker Brandon Vasquez in the 53rd.
Cincinnati was still in control even after Campana’s opening goal and Messi’s first assist.
That is, until Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion from Argentina, once again demonstrated why he is the best athlete in his field.
Inter Miami wins by penalty kicks once again
The penalty kick shootout has been used in three games involving IMF.
And IMF has triumphed in each one.
They have a game in hand over Cincinnati (5-4) after defeating Nashville SC (10-9) in the League Cup final on Saturday.
Messi scored the equalizer to draw it at 4 against FC Dallas earlier this month, and IMF triumphed 5-4 on penalties.