Inter Miami CF rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat FC Cincinnati, 5-4, in a penalty shootout after the teams played to a 3-3 draw through 120 minutes of their U.S. Open Cup semifinal Wednesday at TQL Stadium.
Luciano Acosta and Brandon Vazquez scored goals to put FCC ahead 2-0 in the 53rd minute, but seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi delivered two assists on set-piece crosses into the box that Leo Campana put away on headers, including the equalizer in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time.
Josef Martinez and Yuya Kubo scored goals in extra time to send it to penalties, where Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender saved Nick Hagglund’s fifth-round attempt to allow Ben Cremaschi to seal it for the visitors with his made kick.
FCC now returns its focus on winning the Supporters Shield, while Miami heads to its second trophy game, hosting Houston in the Open Cup final Sept. 27.
PHOTOS BY JEREMY MILLER
