Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi starred as they edged FC Cincinnati in a dramatic US Open Cup semi-final, progressing to the final after a 3-3 draw in regular time and a 5-4 win in the penalty shootout. The night added another chapter to the team’s memorable cup run, following last week’s Leagues Cup triumph. Cincinnati had been aiming to halt Miami’s momentum, but the Florida club kept pushing for a second trophy and found a way through in extra time despite a late sprint from their opponents.
Messi wore pink shorts as Miami chased glory, aiming to add another title to their growing trophy cabinet. The match carried high stakes, with the potential for a back-to-back trophy run after a 2-0 loss on the previous Wednesday and a tense deadlock going into overtime. Ecuadorian Leonardo Campana played a pivotal role, feeding decisive balls and finishing with his head in key moments.
It marked the first time Inter Miami had drawn a match without Messi scoring, yet Campana supplied a pair of superb assist plays and Josef Martínez found the net in overtime to level the game. Luciano Acosta and Brandon Vázquez added goals for Cincinnati during regulation, while Yuya Kubo found the net in the second extra period to push the contest toward penalties.
Head coach Gerardo Martino shuffled his lineup but kept Messi on the field alongside Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. The changes also included a shift in the three-center-back arrangement, a tactical tweak aimed at stabilizing the defense and maintaining pressure in attack.
Cincinnati Neutralizes Miami
The breakthrough finally came in the 17th minute when Acosta found the back of the net, a strike sparked by a left-flank run and a misstep by the Miami defense that left a physical imprint on the night. Miami’s response was immediate, with a burst of first-half opportunities that tested goalkeeper Alec Kann and required discipline from the back line. Messi delivered a clever through ball that allowed Diego Gómez to create a scoring chance, hinting at the balance of play in the opening period. Cincinnati controlled much of the tempo, limiting Miami’s buildup and squeezing space in the midfield, while Jean Mota and Aaron Boupendza produced chances that did not convert.
The first half closed with both teams trading plays and Cincinnati safeguarding possession, leaving Miami to press after the restart in a bid to tilt the momentum in their favor.
On the Other Hand, the Second Half
Miami struggled to connect consistently with Messi, and the equalizer remained elusive as Cincinnati’s shape and counter-p pressing stifled any clear opportunities. A long ball delivered into the right-side attack gave Santiago Arias space to bring the ball under control and pass to Brandon Vázquez, who struck firmly to beat Callender and push Cincinnati ahead in the 53rd minute. The visitors faced a rising urgency as the clock moved forward, expanding the gap that Miami needed to close.
The Substitutes Change the Course
Martino redirected the narrative by bringing in David Ruiz, Facundo Farías, and Robert Taylor, restoring a more aggressive 4-3-3 setup. Within minutes Miami began to find their rhythm again, with a set-piece opportunity in the 68th minute delivering their equalizer when Messi curled a shot from the left that Campana redirected into the net. The goal shifted momentum as the match opened up in the closing stages, inviting a dramatic finish from both sides.
With Martínez joining late in the game, Miami pressed forward with intensity and forced overtime, crafting a two-way battle that showcased both teams’ resilience. Campana and Messi combined again to level the score in dramatic fashion as time wound down, sending the game into extra time in the 97th minute after a clever move from the Argentine playmaker.
Destan Follows Miami into Overtime
In extra time Martínez pressed high, and Alba’s recovery sparked a sequence that culminated in a shot by the Venezuelan that slipped through Kann. Miami maintained the upper hand in terms of pressure, while Kubo of Japan continued to torment the Cincinnati defense, creating chances and drawing saves. His persistence paid off when a late push put him on the scoresheet and raised the stakes for the shootout.
By the 116th minute a set piece drew Messi into a direct free kick, but the effort failed to connect with the intended target. The decisive moments arrived in the shootout, where both sides converted the first four penalties. Nick Hagglund’s miss opened the door for Cremaschi to seal the victory for Inter Miami in the final sequence, echoing a dramatic finish the club had earlier produced in Dallas.
The celebration carried into the night as the two teams prepared to settle the tie with penalties at TQL Stadium in front of roughly 26,000 spectators.
Final Preview: Houston Dynamo Await
Inter Miami’s next hurdle is a meeting with the Houston Dynamo, led by Héctor Herrera and Adalberto Carrasquilla. Houston advanced by defeating Real Salt Lake 3-1 in overtime, with goals from Herrera, Carrasquilla, and Colombian Luis Caicedo. Real Salt Lake’s Brayan Vera was sent off in the second half of extra time, capping a dramatic path to the final. The US Open Cup final is scheduled to be held in Miami on September 27, setting the stage for a home-court championship showdown for Inter Miami.
The atmosphere around the cup run underlined Miami’s growth as a club, showcasing depth in the squad and the capacity to deliver under pressure. The series of matches highlighted tactical flexibility, late-game resilience, and a willingness to push through fatigue in search of silverware. The final chapter in this cup run will reveal whether Miami can translate their form into a first-ever domestic championship.