Argentine forward Lionel Messi inspired a thrilling comeback to help Inter Miami overcome a 2-0 deficit and beat FC Cincinnati on penalties to reach the final of the US Open Cup after a dramatic night in Ohio.
Messi delivered two exquisite crosses onto the head of striker Leonardo Campana, the second with just a minute of stoppage time remaining, to rescue his team and force extra time, reports ESPN.
Substitute Josef Martínez looked to have completed the turnaround with a cool finish in the third minute of the added 30, but Cincinnati refused to lay down and made it 3-3 through Yuya Kubo to lead to a penalty shootout.Messi scored from the spot, but once again it was goalkeeper Drake Callender who made himself the hero, producing the only save of the shootout from Nick Hagglund before Benjamin Cremaschi fired home the winning kick.
Miami can now look forward to another final, against either the Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake, next month.
It was Miami's second shootout in four days, after beating Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup final on Saturday to lift its first trophy in club history.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
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