Messi sets up two goals to help Inter Miami complete comeback
Inter Miami staged a remarkable comeback to beat FC Cincinnati on penalties and advance to the U.S. Open Cup Final on Wednesday. The game ended 3-3 after extra time, with Lionel Messi playing a crucial role in Inter Miami’s late goals. He was unable to score himself, but he set up two of his teammates with brilliant passes and converted his penalty in the shootout.
Messi converts penalty in shootout to send Inter Miami to final
FC Cincinnati had a strong start and kept Messi quiet for most of the game. He did not have a single shot on target in the 90 minutes.
However, he showed his class and creativity in the final stages, as he delivered a perfect free kick for Leonardo Campana to head home in the 68th minute and then found Campano with a sublime through ball in stoppage time to level the score.
In extra time, Josef Martinez gave Inter Miami the lead with a header from a cross by Benjamin Cremaschi. FC Cincinnati equalized with a strike by Yuya Kubo in the 114th minute.
Earlier in the game, Messi turned his head slightly to the left before a free kick in the 68th minute, which reached Campana for the first time.
Messi shows class and creativity in late stages
Messi had one more chance to win it with a free kick in the 119th minute, but it was saved by the goalkeeper.
The game went to penalties, where Messi calmly slotted in his spot kick. Both teams scored their next four penalties, before Drake Callender made a save for Inter Miami. Cremaschi stepped up and scored the decisive penalty to send Inter Miami to the final.
Inter Miami face Houston Dynamo or Real Salt Lake in final
Fans on social media were amazed by Messi’s performance and celebrated his clutch moments that helped Inter Miami win:
Messi and Inter Miami will face either Houston Dynamo or Real Salt Lake in the Open Cup Final on Sept. 27. They will also resume their MLS campaign on Saturday against the New York Red Bulls.
