Different tournament, same results for Inter Miami.
Just days after being crowned Leagues Cup Champions, Inter Miami are again one win away from hoisting another trophy.
But it certainly wasn’t an easy win, which ultimately needed penalty kicks for Inter Miami to advance past FC Cincinnati in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal.
Inter Miami gambled with numerous changes to their starting lineup and paid the price for it. It led to a lethargic first 55 minutes and Miami dug itself a 2-0 hole.
However, Inter Miami needed just two connections from their starting forwards — Lionel Messi and Leonardo Campana — to complete the comeback and extend the match.
First, Messi serviced a ball from a set piece in the corner that Campana headed into the net to make it 2-1. Then, in the final minute of the match, Messi again sent a long pass to Campana, who once again buried it with his head to tie the game.
Forward Josef Martinez, who usually starts over Campana, netted the go-ahead goal in the 93rd minute of extra time, leaving Inter Miami on their heels for the remainder of play. Cincinnati then made it 3-3 in the 114th minute to force a penalty shootout.
The fate of the shootout rested on the foot of 18-year-old Key Biscayne native Benjamin Cremaschi’s foot, and he won it in the fifth round.
It’s the second time in the last month Cremaschi has scored the winner in penalty kicks. It’s also the first time that Messi didn’t score since joining Inter Miami.
“(Messi) has a response for every moment, no matter the circumstances,” Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said through an interpreter.
Inter Miami will host the Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup final on Sept. 27.
Martino was bold with his changes to the starting lineup, playing five defenseman and two forwards. Campana started at forward over Martinez, Diego Gomez and Jean Mota started at midfield over Robert Taylor and Cremaschi and Tomas Aviles started at defense over Dixon Arroyo.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Leonardo Campana #9 of Inter Miami CF celebrates after scoring his second goal against the FC Cincinnati during the second half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF celebrates after teammate Leonardo Campana #9 scored his second goal against the FC Cincinnati during the second half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
A fan cheers as Inter Miami's Lionel Messi warms up for the team's U.S. Open Cup soccer semifinal against FC Cincinnati, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball against the FC Cincinnati during the first half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF passes the ball to teammate Leonardo Campana (not pictured) against the FC Cincinnati during the second half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Facundo Farias #11 of the Inter Miami CF collides with Alvaro Barreal #31 of FC Cincinnati during the second half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF heads the ball against Ray Gaddis #28 of FC Cincinnati during the second half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF attempts a shot against the FC Cincinnati during the second half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball against the FC Cincinnati during the second half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF waves prior to the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match between Inter Miami CF and FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball against Obinna Nwobodo #5 of FC Cincinnati during the first half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF celebrates after teammate Leonardo Campana #9 scored his second goal against the FC Cincinnati during the second half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball against the FC Cincinnati during the second half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Leonardo Campana #9 of Inter Miami CF celebrates with Lionel Messi #10 after scoring his first goal against the FC Cincinnati in the 68th minute of the second half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Matt Miazga #21 of FC Cincinnati kicks the ball against the Inter Miami CF during the first half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Serhiy Kryvtsov #27 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball against the FC Cincinnati during the first half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF celebrates after teammate Leonardo Campana #9 scored his second goal against the FC Cincinnati during the second half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Alvas Powell #2 of FC Cincinnati heads the ball against the Inter Miami CF during the second half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Facundo Farias #11 of the Inter Miami CF holds his knee after a play during the second half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball against Junior Moreno #93 of FC Cincinnati during the first half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball against the FC Cincinnati during the first half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Brandon Vazquez #19 of FC Cincinnati heads the ball against Sergio Busquets #5 of Inter Miami CF during the first half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Brandon Vazquez #19 of FC Cincinnati celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against the Inter Miami CF in the 53rd minute of the second half in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
For Mota, it was his first appearance since April 29 when he injured his lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in his right knee. He was initially given a 4-6-month recovery timetable, but needed just shy of four months to return.
It was also Aviles’ Inter Miami debut, a prized 19-year-old signing from Argentina at the beginning of August.
FC Cincinnati drew first blood, the first time Inter Miami haven’t led 1-0 since their trio of superstars joined last month.
Cincinnati attacked up the far sideline and started its break when an unlucky ball bounded off the head of Gomez. It popped the ball high into the air, and forward Aaron Boupendza flicked it into Inter Miami’s penalty area for a streaking Luciano Acosta. The midfielder dodged around a Miami challenge and snuck a shot off the inside of the left post and into the net in the 18th minute.
Acosta, like Messi, also wears No. 10 for Cincinnati and is from Argentina.
— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) August 23, 2023
Cincinnati then appeared to make it 2-0 just seconds later, but it was immediately disallowed for offsides.
Inter Miami created their first scoring chance in the 21st minute when a hard shot from Gomez was denied at a tight angle.
Besides those strings of moments, it was a lackadaisical half for both teams. Inter Miami controlled 62.2% of possession, but didn’t do much with it. The offense was stagnant and many players looked lost when they had the ball on their foot.
Inter Miami started to build together a sustained attack at the end of the half, but often settled for low-percentage shots from distance. The first corner kick of the match for either team didn’t come until the 40th minute.
Martino stuck to his guns to start the second half and didn’t making any immediate substitutions. Not much changed from Inter Miami’s effort, and they paid for it early in the half.
Cincinnati counterattacked with numbers and Inter Miami’s back check didn’t recover in time. It left forward Brandon Vazquez with a plethora of space at the top of the Miami penalty area, who unleashed a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner of the net.
.@Brvndonv only scores bangers.
— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) August 24, 2023
Martino finally responded by making a triple substitution in the 58th minute. Midfielders David Ruiz and Facundo Farias entered for Mota and defender DeAndre Yedlin. Taylor also joined, taking the spot of defender Kamal Miller while switching to four defenders in the back. It also marked the debut of Farias.
Ten minutes later, Inter Miami got on the board.
They won a set piece in the attacking-third when Farias went down in the corner. Messi took the kick, lofting a bending pass that Campana headed into the net.
Lionel Messi finds Leonardo Campana! 🔥
WE HAVE A GAME ON OUR HANDS! 🍿
— WATCH MESSI FOR FREE (more in bio) (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 24, 2023
Cincinnati appeared to make it 3-1 just a few minutes later, only to have a second goal waived off.
It came off a corner and a loose ball in front of Inter Miami’s net was volleyed into the goal by forward Yuya Kubo. However, he used his right hand to settle the ball at his foot and the goal was immediately disallowed.
Inter Miami made two more substitutions in the 78th minute as they prepared a final push, bringing in defender Noah Allen and Martinez.
Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callander kept the game alive in stoppage time making a point blank stop on a volley.
They kept chopping until their superstar finally put Inter Miami on his back.
In the 97th minute, Messi launched another long-ball with Campana as his target. It was another perfect pass, connecting with Campana’s head and landing in the back of the net.
“Obviously we all know I haven’t had as many minutes recently,” Campana said, “but I think working hard and believing yourself leads to improving.”
Otro más de Leo para Leo en el minuto 97! 🤯🔥
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 24, 2023
The match went into extra time, rather than straight to penalty kicks like the Leagues Cup. Cremaschi was subbed on, taking Campana’s spot.
Like Cremaschi did when he was inserted against FC Dallas, he wasted no time delivering. This time though, it was on the assist.
He threaded a well-paced ball to Martinez, who angled his body around to net the go-ahead goal.
Benja to Martinez to put us in the lead in @opencup semi final! 👏👏👏👏 #CINvMIA | 2-3
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 24, 2023
There was still plenty of time left in the match tough, and Inter Miami were on their heels for remainder of the match.
Cincinnati nearly tied it in the 104th minute with a header that smacked the crossbar. Then, they almost won a penalty kick seconds later when the ball glanced off the forearm of left-back Jordi Alba, but no infraction was assessed.
It wasn’t until the 114th minute that Cincinnati tied it at 3-3.
A low cross was sent toward net and deflected off the leg of Ruiz. The ball landed on the foot of Kubo at the top of the box, who was unmarked and had time to square up to the net. He then bent a right-footed shot into the right corner of the net for the equalizer.
NOT. SO. FAST. YUYA KUBO LEVELS IT FOR FC CINCINNATI IN EXTRA-TIME. 😱
— WATCH MESSI FOR FREE (more in bio) (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 24, 2023
Both teams converted all of their penalty kicks through the first four rounds until Callender made a save to start the fifth round. Cremaschi ended it with rocket into the bottom right corner.
“Truthfully, I’m happy with all the young players,” Martino said. “Today, they showed a lot of courage again in a match we were behind in.”
The win means that Inter Miami have beaten five of the top seven teams in the Eastern Conference table in the last month: Philadelphia, Orlando, Nashville, Atlanta and now Cincinnati, who has the best record in the league.
That’s quite remarkable for a team still in last place in the conference.
