Leo Messi’s Inter Miami shoot epic to enter another final

He between miami of Leo Messi beat FC this Wednesday at home cincinnati epic after tying the score 3-3 in regulation time and prevailing 4-5 in a penalty shootout to reach the final of US Open Cup. The pink outfit, which last week won the first title in its history with the League Cupwill go for his second trophy after turning around a game he lost 2-0 on Wednesday and was sent to extra time with a 97th-minute goal from the Ecuadorian Leonardo Campana.

This is his first time between miami made it through a qualifying round without Messi not converting any goals, although he contributed remarkably with two great assists on the head of a Campana who achieved the double. The third purpose of between miami Venezuelan Josef Martínez sealed it to complete the comeback in extra time.

Through cincinnati the Argentine Luciano Acosta and the American of Mexican origin scored Brandon Vazquez in regulation time. Japan’s Yuya Kubo scored in the second extra period to force penalties.

Gerardo Martino made many changes to the starting eleven although he retained Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. The other novelty is the modification of the drawing with three centers. We had to wait until minute 17 for Argentine Acosta to open the scoring. The play was born in the left wing in their own boots. An unfortunate action for the defense of Miami ended up qualifying him inside the area and he defined the problems but first, with his left foot, the ball hit Kamal Miller and went in tight to the post.

The goal and a few other scares were a wake-up call for Inter Miami, who quickly signed their first shot between the three sticks, well answered by Alec Kann. A good pass from Messi allowed the diagonal offered by Paraguayan Diego Gómez.

The closing of the first part has a cold minute. Cincinnati controlled the game and did not allow Miami to build a game despite dominating possession. Only two chances by Jean Mota and Aaron Boupendza came to nothing.

between miami unable to connect to Messi and the new drawing still doesn’t work. They went up a meter bit by bit and neglected the back of the defense, something that Cincinnati knows very well how to read.

The locals’ focus was clearly to damage the counter and so a long ball arrived in the right attacking space for Colombian Santiago Arias, who had all the time in the world to raise his head and deliver the ball in front of Vázquez .

The batter hit it with tremendous power to adjust it to Drake Callender’s right. It’s minute 53 and the distance on the scoreboard has become worrying for the visitors.

Martino’s changes worked

Martino made changes introducing David Ruiz, Facundo Farías and Robert Taylor. The formation reverted to the usual 4-3-3 and the challenge was huge: only thirty minutes ahead to enter the comeback.

Without building a game, Inter Miami’s goal had to come from a set piece in the 68th minute. Messi executed it perfectly from the left to put it on the head of the Ecuadorian Campana, who finished at will and before a Kann who just watch.

With Venezuelan Josef Martínez on the pitch, the Florida team put all the meat on the grill to force overtime and the match turned into a two-way clash.

Inter Miami’s ‘I want and I can’t’ rise to nine minutes of added time; each ‘Tata’ opportunity gave way to a counterattack from Cincinnati.

And Campana and his head reappeared, same combination. The center was from Messi for the Ecuadorian, who crossed it and sent the game to extra time at 97.

It was Martínez’s turn in extra time. Great high pressure, recovery from Alba and this time Benjamín Cremaschi ‘played Messi’ in helping the Venezuelan, beating Kann between his legs.

Despite the win and the fact that Cincinnati was rushing, Inter Miami pressed from the top to prevent their rival from getting the ball out and it worked for them.

It must have been the Japanese Kubo, who had been looking for him the most since he entered the second part, who put on the tie and all the emotions. A rejection comes to him and he has the patience to accept her and make her unattainable for Callender.

In the 116th minute, the script had a free kick prepared for Messi to improve his short history in the United States, but this time he could not find the team.

Once in penalties, both teams were very reliable and converted the first four shots, until Nick Hagglund missed the fifth for the locals and Cremaschi, as he did in Dallas, converted the ultimate goal for between miami.