“Cincinnati, Ohio (August 23, 2022) – Fresh from their triumph in the inaugural League Cup, Inter Miami CF made their way into the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open by defeating FC Cincinnati 5-4 in a penalty shootout after a dramatic 3-3 draw in the theatrical style. The teams faced off at TQL Stadium on Wednesday night in front of a crowd of 25,513 for the cup final.
An hour after Inter Miami had fallen behind 2-0, current World Cup champion Lionel Messi provided additional time with two assists alongside Leonardo Campana. Joseph Martinez, the 2019 Open Cup champion, put Herons ahead 3-2 in the 93rd minute, but Inter Miami’s Yuya Kubo equalized in the 114th minute to send the match to a penalty kick tiebreaker. In the shootout, Miami’s goalkeeper Drake Callender saved the fifth-round attempt from Sinisinati’s resident Nick Hagglund, before Benjamin Kremaschi sent Inter Miami through in its first U.S. This marks the highly anticipated Open Cup final, representing the pinnacle of competition, and stands as the momentous second championship clash of the eventful year 2023.
With the result, Inter Miami will take on the winner of the second semifinal between Houston Dynamo/Real Salt Lake in the U.S. Open Cup final on September 27, Wednesday, aiming to secure its second trophy of the year.
Despite temperatures soaring over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, both teams displayed courage in the first 15 minutes, asserting control and showcasing impressive ball possession and attack. Inspired by their home fans, FC Cincinnati scored the opening goal in the 18th minute through a splendid performance by Lucho Acosta. Advancing from the left, the Argentine attacker provided a pass that reached Inter Miami’s Thomas Evelys, who then found teammate Aaron Boppenzha. The striker nodded the ball at the top of the box, shook off his marker, and sent the ball beyond the reach of Miami’s goalkeeper Drake Callender with a well-placed header, as Acosta maintained his run before slotting home the subsequent goal from outside the post.
In an attempt to stage a comeback, Inter Miami nearly equalized three minutes later as Messi put Diego Gomeza inside the penalty area, but FC Cincinnati’s goalkeeper Alec Kann expertly parried the Paraguayan forward’s shot away.
During the first half’s stoppage time, Inter Miami had two more opportunities. Following a scramble, Brazilian midfielder Jean Mota unlocked a 25-yard attempt that swerved just wide of Kann’s goal post. Two minutes later, USMNT full-back DeAndre Yedlin sliced in from the right and found Gomeza near the near post, but the Argentine’s header clashed with Cincinnati’s goal.
These efforts resulted in a thrilling match that concluded with a dramatic 3-3 draw, leading to a penalty shootout, in which Inter Miami eventually triumphed 5-4 against FC Cincinnati, earning them a spot in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open.”
“The home team managed to overcome the threat by the end of the first half and, at the start of the second half, USMNT forward Brandon Vazquez gave his team a 2-0 lead. After withstanding the opposition’s pressure, a line-breaking pass over Miami’s defensive line found Santiago Arias on the right. During the buildup, as opposing defenders closed in, Arias found a wide-open Vazquez just outside the penalty area. The striker launched a powerful attempt from inside the box in the 53rd minute, past goalkeeper Callender and into the left side of the net.
Energized by the two-goal lead, Inter Miami countered with a swift response through Messi’s set-piece attempt. Arias had been brought down on the left flank, giving Messi a perfect position for a free-kick delivery. The Argentine maestro lofted a picturesque ball that reached Leonardo Campana, who in the 68th minute, from six yards out, headed past Kann to halve the host’s lead.
Inter Miami’s partnership struck again, nearly equalizing in the 83rd minute as Messi fed Campana from the left. The forward skillfully controlled the ball and touched it past the onrushing Farias before delivering a pass from the byline.
While Miami continued to press, FC Cincinnati nearly sealed their victory in the third minute of stoppage time in the second half, when Sergi Santos broke through the left flank and found Arias centrally. The latter’s right-footed attempt sailed over the bar.
Down but not out, Inter Miami found the equalizer in the seventh minute of the second half’s stoppage time, with Messi and Campana connecting once again. Operating from the left side of midfield, Messi had ample space to deliver another pinpoint cross for Campana, who from the center rose above all to head his second of the night, sending the match into extra time.
In extra time, Miami secured the lead within just three minutes. FC Cincinnati played a poorly executed pass from the back line, which landed straight to Jordi Alba. The Spaniard quickly delivered the ball with pace and precision for Benjamin Kremaschi in the center. The 18-year-old Inter Miami homegrown player swiftly got past his marker, setting up Joseph Martinez in the box, and the Venezuelan striker unleashed a low blast that found the back of the net, giving Miami a 3-2 advantage.
FC Cincinnati thought they had an answer right before the break of extra time, as Arias lifted the ball out of the six-yard box with a cross from the right. Seconds later, they appealed for a penalty when Nick Hagglund’s shot struck Jordi Alba’s hand, but after reviewing the video, The assistant referee concluded that the Spaniard’s hand retained its natural stance, leading to the decision of not awarding a penalty.” “In the 114th minute, FC Cincinnati upheld their poise and clinched a leveling goal courtesy of two replacements on the field.”. Brett Hundleby was sent in from the left, delivering a low cross into the box that was unsuccessfully dealt with by Inter Miami’s David Ruiz. However, it was made clear that the ball was played directly to Yuya Kubo, who, for the first time, leveled the score to 3-3 by netting the ball past Callender and into the net, resulting in a penalty shootout.
After all eight players had changed their spot kicks in the first four rounds of the shootout, it was Callender again who re-assumed the role of the hero for Inter Miami. Just five days after saving two penalties against Nashville SC in the League Cup final, Callender dove to his left and parried Hagglund’s spot kick in the fifth round, denying FC Cincinnati and setting the stage for Kremaschi. With the advantage in hand, Kremaschi stepped up, sending his spot kick into the back of the net, guiding Inter Miami through to its first U.S. Open Cup final and its second championship match of 2023.”
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Match Report:
Match: FC Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami CF
Date: August 23, 2023
Competition: Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal
Venue: TQL Stadium; Cincinnati, Ohio
Attendance: 25,513 (Ticket sales)
Kick-off: 7:05 PM ET
Weather: 83°F; Partially cloudy skies
Score Summary: 1-2 AET (After Extra Time), 3-4 CIN, 3-5 MIA
Scorers:
CIN – Luciano Acosta (Assisted by Aaron Boupendza) – 18′ CIN – Brandon Vazquez (Assisted by Santiago Arias) – 53′
MIA – Leonardo Campana (Assisted by Lionel Messi) – 68′ MIA – Leonardo Campana (Assisted by Lionel Messi) – 90+7′ MIA – Joseph Martinez (Assisted by Benjamin Kremaschi) – 93′ CIN – Yuya Kubo – 114′
Penalty Shootout:
CIN: Yuya Kubo – Goal, Santiago Arias – Saved, Sergio Santos – Goal, Matheus Ajhge – Saved, Nick Hagglund – Saved
MIA: Lionel Messi – Goal, Fáikundo Farías – Goal, David Ruiz – Goal, Joseph Martinez – Goal, Benjamin Kremaschi – Goal
Lineup:
CIN: (Formation: 4-4-2)
- Alec Kann
- Nick Hagglund
- Obinna Nwobodo
- Aaron Boupendza (Substituted by Yuya Kubo, 62)
- Luciano Acosta (Captain) (Substituted by Rémon Gaides, 89)
- Santiago Arias
- Brandon Vazquez (Substituted by Santiago Santos, 78)
- Matheus Ajhge
- Alvaro Barijal (Substituted by Brett Hundlesy, 105)
- Ian Murphy (Substituted by Alvas Powell, 88)
- Junior Moreno (Substituted by Marko Angulo, 89)
Unused Subs: Roman Celinthano
Head Coach: Patrick Noonan
MIA: (Formation: 4-3-3)
- Drake Callender
- Dandre Yedlin (Substituted by Faikundo Farías, 58)
- Sergio Basquets
- Thomas Evils (Substituted by Noah Alan, 78)
- Jean Motta (Substituted by David Ruiz, 58)
- Diego Gómez (Substituted by Joseph Martinez, 78)
- Leonardo Campana (Substituted by Benjamin Kremaschi, 91)
- Lionel Messi (Captain)
- Jordi Alba
- Sergi Krivatsov
- Kamal Miller (Substituted by Robert Taylor, 58)
Unused Subs: César Dos Santos
Head Coach: Gerardo Martino
Match Stats:
- Shots: 22 (CIN) / 11 (MIA)
- Shots on Goal: 9 (CIN) / 6 (MIA)
- Saves: 3 (CIN) / 6 (MIA)
- Corner Kicks: 6 (CIN) / 2 (MIA)
- Fouls: 22 (CIN) / 18 (MIA)
- Offsides: 2 (CIN) / 0 (MIA)
Highlights:
- Alba (CIN) – Goal, Assisted by Santiago Arias – 24′
- Nwobodo (CIN) – Goal, Assisted by Aaron Boupendza – 31′
- Jean Motta (MIA) – Goal, Assisted by Sergi Krivatsov – 41′
- Evils (MIA) – Goal, Assisted by Thomas Evils – 70′
- Krivatsov (MIA) – Goal, Assisted by Sergi Krivatsov – 80′
- Martino (MIA) – Goal, Assisted by Gerardo Martino – 80′
- Acosta (CIN) – Goal, Assisted by Luciano Acosta – 85′
- Barijal (CIN) – Goal, Assisted by Alvaro Barijal – 90′
Officials:
- Referee: Joseph Dickerson
- Assistant Referee 1: Luis Uranga
- Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Bigelow
- Fourth Official: Eric Tattersall
- VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.
- Assistant VAR: Thomas Sapla