The US Open Cup is the oldest football series in the United States, dating back to 1914, and it is also the country’s oldest cup, including all team sports. (The Stanley Cup is a Canadian “invention.”)
Now, Inter Miami will also be there in the finals after beating the host FC Cincinnati 5-4 on penalties after a 3-3 draw after 120 minutes. Of course Lionel Messi this time he didn’t even score, the first time since he was employed by Inter. (Of course he scored in the penalty shootout…)
The game started in vain for the Floridians at the TQL Stadium, where Messi’s every touch of the ball was accompanied by a concert of hostile whistles. Luciano Acosta, Messi’s compatriot, gave Cincinnati the lead in the 18th minute, which was doubled by American national team striker Brandon Vázquez in the 53rd minute.
It didn’t go well for the guests, the team of coach Tata Martino suffered in the seven matches played in one month, in which four positions had to be changed due to fatigue in the team that won the League Cup on Saturday.
But Messi came and scored the ball from a free kick in the 68th minute Leonardo Campana to the head, who completed the beauty goal:
However, the clock ticked mercilessly. The referee extended eight minutes and we were already in the 97th minute, when another magical pass from Messi came from the left wing, which found Campana on the head and with his second goal saved the game twice for 15 minutes of extra time:
In the extra half hour, Inter took the lead through Josef Martínez, which was equalized by the 13-time Japanese international Júja Kubo, and the penalties came.
No one made a mistake until 4-4, Messi, for example, casually placed me in the right corner. Finally Drake Callenderthe Miami goalkeeper saved Nick Hagglund’s penalty, Benjamin Cremaschi scored his own, and Inter were already in the final, where they will face either Houston Dynamo or Real Salt Lake.
In the meantime, the MLS regular season begins on Saturday, with Inter visiting the home of the New York Red Bulls. There’s no stopping, American sports are just that…
During his stay in Florida, Messi was unsuccessful for the first time, but with two assists he played a decisive role in his team’s new success.
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2023-08-24 04:40:00
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