Inter Miami win first League Cup title in four days with Messi's crucial assists

Posted : 24 August 2023

Just four days after securing their first-ever League Cup title, Inter Miami experienced a thrilling journey to the American Cup final marked by extraordinary drama. Despite falling into a significant 2-0 deficit against Cincinnati in the U.S. Cup semi-final, the team managed to claw back thanks to the magic of Argentine star Leo Messi, who provided two crucial assists.

These assists ultimately resulted in a 2-2 tie at the end of regular time and a 3-3 deadlock after extra time. The match concluded with a tense penalty shootout, in which Inter Miami emerged victorious with a 5-4 score, propelling them towards the prospect of clinching yet another championship.

The game began inauspiciously for Inter Miami as they conceded an 18th-minute goal by Messi's compatriot, Luciano Acosta. Cincinnati extended their lead to 2-0 in the 53rd minute with a goal from Brandon Vazquez, leaving Messi and his teammates in a challenging situation. However, the momentum shifted when Inter Miami's Leonardo Campania found the back of the net with a header, narrowing the gap to 2-1 in the 68th minute.

As the match progressed, Miami's desperation to equalize became palpable, but the clock was winding down. It was in the 8 additional minutes of extra time that Messi once again demonstrated his brilliance. With impeccable precision, he delivered a perfect assist to Campania, who executed another header to level the score at 2-2, pushing the game into extra time. The pendulum swung once more as Joseph Martinez's goal in the 93rd minute granted the visitors an advantage. However, Yuya Kubo of Cincinnati equalized in the 114th minute, mirroring the dramatics of the League Cup final and leading to another penalty shootout.

During the penalty shootout, the first four kickers from both teams exhibited accuracy from the penalty spot, including Messi who led Inter Miami's efforts. The tension escalated when Cincinnati's Nick Hagelund missed the fifth kick, opening the door for Inter Miami. The spotlight then fell on 18-year-old Benjamin Karamachi, who replaced Campania and managed to deliver the decisive penalty, securing a place for Inter Miami in the cup final. In a month's time, they are set to face off against the Houston Dynamo for the title.

Adding to the excitement, Messi is on the verge of making his Major League Soccer (MLS) debut in just three days, marking his return from the offseason. His first game will be an away match against the New York Red Bulls. As of now, Inter Miami finds itself in the last position in the Eastern Conference with only five wins out of 22 games played.

Inter Miami win first League Cup title in four days with Messi's crucial assists

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