3 – 5
“Lionel Messi broke the deadlock with Inter Miami's first meaningful breakthrough, finishing to put the visitors ahead and immediately signal their intent in what was already shaping up as a feisty encounter.”
Pivotal“Cincinnati won a penalty after sustained Miami pressure in the build-up — Evander's earlier header had been blocked, and Suárez had gone close from the left — and Kévin Denkey coolly converted from the spot to level at 1-1 just before half-time, swinging momentum decisively back toward the home side.”
Pivotal“Just sixty seconds after Miami had equalized through Messi to make it 2-2, Evander rifled Cincinnati back into the lead at 3-2 — a stunning response that put the home side in prime position to claim a famous scalp and sent TQL Stadium into raptures.”
Pivotal“With Cincinnati protecting a 3-3 scoreline and seemingly heading for a hard-earned point, substitute Germán Berterame punished the tiring home defense to put Inter Miami ahead for the first time since the opening stages — 3-4 — fundamentally shifting the balance of the match with six minutes to play.”
Pivotal“Messi completed his hat-trick in the 89th minute to make it 3-5, killing off any lingering Cincinnati hope of a comeback and putting his personal stamp on an extraordinary night with a third goal of ruthless, match-winning quality.”
Pivotal
Cincinnati
Inter Miami
Outstanding performance
Inter Miami•AttackerInter Miami came to TQL Stadium and left with five goals, but the journey was anything but smooth. Cincinnati actually led twice in the second half, most recently at 3-2 in the 64th minute through an Evander strike, and looked capable of a famous result against the league's marquee side. Miami's superior quality ultimately told, however, with Germán Berterame flipping the match on its head in the 84th minute before Messi administered the final blow in stoppage time. The Argentine was the central figure throughout, opening the scoring in the 24th minute, restoring parity at 2-2 just after the hour, and then returning when it mattered most to settle what had become a ferocious contest. Cincinnati's Pavel Bucha and Evander both produced moments of genuine quality and the home side's 19 fouls illustrated the physical desperation with which they chased the result, but Inter Miami's dominance in key metrics — 17 shots, eight corners, 50 dangerous attacks to Cincinnati's 36, and four big chances created to just two — reflected the gap between the sides when Miami were at their best. For Cincinnati, a battling performance that briefly threatened an upset ultimately ends in a painful defeat with serious title-race implications; for Miami, three points secured in the most chaotic fashion imaginable, and further proof that as long as Messi is on the pitch, no lead is ever quite safe enough.
How entertaining was this match?
Pavel BuchaPavel Bucha takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
The first half ends with a score of 1-1.
Lionel Andres Messi takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Lionel Andres Messi takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Goal in the penalty shootout! Ahoueke Steeve Kevin Denkey scores, making it 1-1.
Kévin DenkeyAhoueke Steeve Kevin Denkey takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
Luis Suarez takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Evander da Silva Ferreira's header is blocked.
Pavel Bucha takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Lionel Andres Messi takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
Telasco Jose Segovia Perez takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Yannick Bright takes a shot with his head but misses.
Ahoueke Steeve Kevin Denkey takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Gerardo Valenzuela's right-footed shot is blocked.
Bryan Ramirez takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Evander da Silva Ferreira takes a right-footed shot but misses.
The goal is disallowed after a VAR review due to offside.
Inter Miami bring star power and a 3rd-place standing to TQL Stadium, but Cincinnati are desperate to arrest a troubling run and climb the table. With Lionel Messi leading the visitors and several key absentees on both sides, this Eastern Conference clash promises fireworks in what is quickly becoming one of MLS's most compelling rivalries.
