MESSI GOT MESSY: **Messi Continues His Greatness and Advances to a New Final with Inter Miami**

Argentinian soccer legend Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccitinni continues to shine as the guiding apostle leading his team to victories and more victories since his arrival in the United States with Inter Miami.

Cincinnati drew 3-3 with Inter Miami, a team that emerged victorious in penalties (5-4) in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Semifinals, marking Messi's first defeat with his American team and the first tournament he loses.

As if they had observed everything that happened between Lionel Messi and the Florida squad in the Leagues Cup, Cincinnati functioned almost automatically, as if they were following a well-studied playbook of what to do and what not to do when facing Inter Miami.

The locals not only closed spaces but also opened paths: their own ways and routes aimed at causing harm to the pink-clad opponents, who had to retrieve the ball from their own net in the 18th minute after Luciano Acosta found the back of the net.

The response took its time, in fact, it didn't come in the rest of the first half, nor in the second half, where Cincinnati put their second goal on the scoreboard with an extraordinary cross-shot from Brandon Vázquez, doubling the lead at the 53rd minute.

Amidst the inefficiency in the midfield of Inter Miami and the constant attention on their '10', set-pieces emerged as the closest thing to an answer for the visitors. It was Lionel Messi who brought hope by taking a free-kick in the 68th minute, allowing Leonardo Campana to rise and head the ball into the net, narrowing the gap on the scoreboard.

Once again, Lionel Messi delivered a dream pass to Campana, who, during injury time, headed the ball to equalize the match and send it into extra time. Josef Martínez and Kubo scored in extra time, but ultimately, the penalty shootout decided it all. Hagglund became the 'villain' as he was the only one to miss in the shootout, and Inter Miami advanced to a new Final, less than two months after Messi joined the Florida club.

**Keywords**: Messi, Inter Miami, Final, US Open Cup, Cincinnati, victory, defeat, Leagues Cup, triumph, United States, guidance, soccer, legend.