Inter Miami won again in the penalty shootout lottery after tying 3-3 in the regulation period and left Cincinnati FC on the way to reach the final of the US Open Cup, the oldest soccer tournament in the United States.
Cincinnati leads the MLS Eastern Conference with an eight-point lead over second place and 33 over the top Miami franchise - took the lead in the score through his great figure, the Argentine Luciano Acosta (minute 18) and extended the advantage thanks to a very strong shot by the American international Brandon Vázquez in the 53rd minute '.
However, the Ecuadorian Leonardo Campana scored in the 68th minute with a header that finished off a cross from Messi, and sensationally tied at 90+7 after another high assist from the Rosario star.
Thus things had to go to extra time, and there (now substitute) Josef Martínez scored immediately to put ahead a team that a while before it seemed definitively settled. But the opponent did not stop trying, Miami's strategy of retreating en bloc did not give the desired result, and Yuya Kubo tied the score at 114'.
Inter accused in several passages the physical and mental wear and tear derived from their commitment on Saturday for the Leagues Cup final, but coach Gerardo Martino had been categorical in stating that the '10' would play until he himself requested rest. The truth is that the heat and the accumulation of minutes did an obvious job on Miami's key players, all of whom were quite veteran.
The point is that there were (again) penalties, just as happened before dallas and Nashville during the Leagues Cup. And History repeated itself with Messi getting the first charge right and 'Las Garzas' boasting effectiveness from the 12 steps. Cincinnati missed its fifth shot, the young Benjamín Cremaschi had no mercy, and Inter now awaits the winner between Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake to meet its rival in the match for the US Open Cup trophy.
ALIGNMENTS
Cincinnati: Kann; Hagglund, Murphy, Arias, Barreal, Miazga; Nwobodo, Moreno, Acosta; Boupendza and Vazquez. DT: Pat Noonan
Inter Miami: Callender, Yedlin, Kryvtsov, Avilés, Miller, Jordi Alba; Gómez, Busquets, Mota; Messi, Campana. DT: Gerardo Martino
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