In the wake of their recent victory in the Inaugural Leagues Cup, Inter Miami CF triumphed over FC Cincinnati with a 5-4 win in penalty shootout following a thrilling 3-3 draw, securing their place in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final. The match took place in front of a sold-out crowd of 25,513 at TQL Stadium on Wednesday night.
Despite trailing 2-0 after the 60-minute mark, Inter Miami made a comeback as Lionel Messi, the reigning World Cup champion, assisted Leonardo Campana twice to level the score and force extra time. In the 93rd minute, Josef Martínez, the 2019 Open Cup champion, scored, putting Inter Miami ahead 3-2. However, FC Cincinnati's Yuya Kubo managed to score a late equalizer in the 114th minute, leading the game to a penalty shootout. During the shootout, Inter Miami's goalkeeper Drake Callender saved a crucial penalty from Cincinnati's Nick Hagglund, while Benjamin Cremaschi's successful penalty secured Inter Miami's spot in the U.S. Open Cup Final, marking their second championship match of 2023.
With this outcome, Inter Miami is set to face the winner of the second semifinal match between Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake in the Open Cup Final on September 27. This provides Inter Miami with an opportunity to clinch their second trophy of the year.
Despite scorching temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, both teams exhibited courage in the initial 15 minutes of the game, displaying periods of possession and attempts to score. FC Cincinnati managed to score the first goal of the game through Lucho Acosta's brilliant play in the 18th minute. However, Inter Miami nearly equalized shortly after when Messi assisted Diego Gómez, whose shot was saved by FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Alec Kann.
Inter Miami made a couple more attempts just before halftime, with Jean Mota's long-range shot missing the target and DeAndre Yedlin's cross finding Gómez, whose header went wide. FC Cincinnati extended their lead to 2-0 early in the second half with a goal from Brandon Vazquez. Inter Miami responded with a set-piece goal orchestrated by Messi, as Campana headed the ball into the net, narrowing the deficit to 2-1.
Messi and Campana connected once again in the 83rd minute, but Campana's subsequent shot went over the bar. As Inter Miami pushed for an equalizer, FC Cincinnati came close to sealing the game, but Callender saved Arias's shot. In stoppage time of the second half, Messi and Campana combined for a crucial equalizer, sending the match into extra time.
Early into extra time, Inter Miami seized the lead as Jordi Alba's pass found Benjamin Cremaschi, who assisted Josef Martínez in scoring. However, FC Cincinnati responded in the 114th minute, with Yuya Kubo capitalizing on a chance to level the score at 3-3, leading to a penalty shootout.
After eight successful penalties from both teams, Callender once again emerged as a hero for Inter Miami by saving Hagglund's penalty. Cremaschi then converted his penalty, propelling Inter Miami to their first U.S. Open Cup Final and their second championship match in 2023.