Messi makes the difference in Miami's latest thrill ride

CINCINNATI — Lionel Messi had two assists and converted in a shootout to lead Inter Miami past MLSleading Cincinnati and into a US Open Cup final against Houston on Wednesday night.

Miami won the shootout 5-4 after a 3-3 draw to remain unbeaten in eight matches, with Messi heading into his Major League Soccer debut on Saturday at the New York Red Bulls. The 36-year-old, a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, joined the team last month and has already led it to the Leagues Cup title.

Cincinnati led 2-0 through goals from Luciano Acosta in the 18th minute and Brandon Vazquez in the 53rd before Messi twice teed up Leonardo Campana, in the 68th minute and deep in stoppage time, to force extra time.

Josef Martinez put Miami ahead 3-2 three minutes into the extras, but Yuya Kubo equalized in the 114th minute.

Messi made Miami's first attempt in the shootout, and the teams were perfect through four rounds. Herons goalkeeper Drake Callender saved Nick Hagglund's spot-kick in the fifth round, and Ben Cremaschi then converted to send Miami to another tournament final.

Houston won the other semifinal, beating visiting Salt Lake 3-1 in extra time. The Dynamo got goals from Hector Herrera in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, Adalberto Carrasquilla in the 105th and Luis Caicedo five minutes into the second extra period. Anderson Julio scored an equalizer in the 64th.

Miami will host the final on Sept 27.

Cremaschi was quickly met by his teammates after the ball hit the back of the net, and they danced around in a group circle on the field while Cincinnati players knelt in disappointment.

"I think we were lacking sharpness to navigate that first half," Miami coach Tata Martino said through a translator.

"We were a step off. I saw a team with one gear less than our rival. The good thing about all of this is that we didn't drop our shoulders, we pressed on. It's not easy in a semifinal to turn things around the way we did. We adapted a lot.

"I think we were controlling the game well in the second half. And the penalties, after that ... If I'd had this kind of luck in penalties for the rest of my career, things would have been a lot less stressful."

Messi scored 10 goals in seven League Cup matches and was held scoreless for the first time since joining Miami. His first assist came off a freekick and his second on a long cross into the penalty area set up Campana's headed equalizer.

Before the shootout, Messi gathered his teammates and appeared to be giving a speech. After Kubo made the first attempt, Messi placed his spot-kick low to the left corner as goalkeeper Alec Kann, who starts cup matches, dived the other way.

"He's a leader on the pitch and with the group he's shown it for a long time, not only here with Miami but also with Argentina," Martino said. "Luckily, players get behind his leadership and enthusiasm in his response for every moment, no matter the circumstances, and today he showed it more as a conductor than a finisher, and you saw that with the pass late in the match but he makes difficult plays look easy."

Messi didn't attempt a shot until right before the final overtime whistle, an attempt easily saved.

Throughout the first half, FC Cincinnati had done well to close the space whenever Messi got on the ball.

"He makes the delivery on the plays that matter, and that's where he's a difference-maker," Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan said.

"I thought as a whole the guys did a pretty good job of limited moments where he could be in dangerous spots to cause us problems, at times, having him drift a little further from goal and be a playmaker.

"I thought we handled those moments pretty well along the back line and I thought the one-versus-one moments and when we could double, we got a lot of those moments right to be able to win the ball, so we knew it was going to be a difficult challenge."

Acosta scored his 14th goal in all competitions, a header from Aaron Boupendza's feed. Vazquez, a US national team forward, scored from outside the penalty area off a low cross from former Atletico Madrid and Colombia international defender Santiago Arias.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, wide receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd and defensive end Sam Hubbard were in attendance and took part in pregame festivities.

Agencies via Xinhua