Lionel Messi Inspires Inter Miami To Another Final With Stunning Fightback

Lionel Messi inspired Inter Miami to come back from two goals down to beat Cincinnati 5-4 on penalties after their thrilling US Open Cup semi-final ended 3-3 after extra-time. Miami, who won the Leagues Cup on penalties against Nashville on Saturday, are now one win away from their second trophy since Messi joined the club last month. The US Open Cup is American soccer's oldest and most important knockout competition, dating back more than a century to 1914 and is similar to England's FA Cup or Spain's Copa del Rey.

Miami will face the winners of Wednesday's other semi-final between Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake in the final on September 27.

A month ago Cincinnati, who are top of Major League Soccer's standings while Miami are bottom, would have been clear favourites in this game but the Florida team are now a very different side to the one which was winless in their 11 league games before the arrival of the Argentine.

But in the intense heat, with temperatures over 100 degrees celsius at kick-off, Miami's unbeaten run since the signing of Messi and Spanish pair Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, looked to be coming to an end in Ohio against an impressive Cincinnati side.

Inter trailed 2-0 with 22 minutes remaining before the Argentine delivered two perfect assists to striker Leonardo Campana to take the game into extra-time.

Messi's compatriot Luciano Acosta put Cincinnati ahead in the 18th minute and American striker Brandon Vazquez doubled the home side's lead with a fine strike from the edge of the box in the 53rd minute.

Miami looked tired and disjointed and the change of personnel and formation adopted by coach Gerardo 'Tata' Martino left the team lacking their usual fluency.

But in the 68th minute, Messi whipped