Lionel Messi reaches US Open Cup final with penalty kicks

IKEJA, Nigeria - Aug. 24, 2023 - PRLog -- Lionel Andrés Messi, also known as Leo Messi, is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both Major League Soccer Club Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. After a grueling Leagues Cup run, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami seemed to be running on fumes, but they continue to conjure just enough magic required each time they step on the field. In the U.S. Open Cup semifinals on the road against FC Cincinnati, the run would live on.

Inter Miami fell 2-0 down to the physical MLS table-toppers, who looked every bit a Supporters' Shield leader for the first hour, but Messi provided two assists to Leo Campana for a late comeback, with the second coming seven minutes deep into added time to draw level at 2-2.

Josef Martinez struck early in extra-time on a feed from substitute Benji Cremaschi to give Inter Miami the lead, but Yuya Kubo grabbed his own equalizer in the 114th minute to pull FC Cincinnati back even.

In the penalty shootout, Callender stopped Nick Hagglund's effort in the fifth round to set up the win, and Cremaschi scored his spot-kick to send Inter Miami through to yet another Cup final, just days after securing the club's first-ever trophy and keep Messi unbeaten in pink. Like Nashville SC before them, FC Cincinnati battered Inter Miami early and often, but they failed to capitalize on a host of chances to put the game away, and that would haunt them in the end.

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