The game kickoff with both teams hot in pursuit of the opening goal, yet in the 18-minute, FC Cincinnati struck first with its midfielder Luciano Acosta, who found the net amidst a scramble within the box, granting Cincinnati a 1-0 lead.

Inter Miami tenaciously sought the equalizer, but Cincinnati widened the gap early in the second half with the U.S. men's national team striker Brandon Vázquez, who fired a grass-cut shot from beyond the box about 25 yards out, extending the lead to 2-0 in the 53-minute.

The Herons would orchestrate a comeback with their leader, Messi, who delivered a well-placed free-kick in the near post 5 yards for a header that Campana put in the back of the net to pull one back at 2-1, and marked his first in the 2023 USOC.

The Ecuadorian was not settled and was hungry for more. In a dramatic turn in the 7-minute injury time, Campana put himself on the same plane as Captain Messi, who delivered a calculated looping cross from the left flank for Campana inside the box, allowing him to execute a header into the far post, equalizing at 2-2 and propelling the match into extra time.

Miami carried the momentum in the 93-minute with the extra time subbed in Cremaschi and Martínez, who expertly inside the box slotted his right-footed strike past goalkeeper Alec Kann, assisted by Cremaschi on a swift transition of a turnover into a rapid counterattack to put them ahead at 3-2.

That goal marked the 10th for the Venezuelan striker of the season and his first in the 2023 USOC, bringing him level with Messi as the team's top scorer. Cremaschi registered his first assist in the competition and the second this season.

Nevertheless, Cincy extended the match to penalties with a goal from forward substitute Yuya Kubo, who responded in the 114-minute with a curling equalizer as full-time approached, reigniting hope for the home side.

Into the penalties, all Inter Miami penalty takers converted their shots, including Messi, Facundo Farías, who made his team debut on the night, David Ruiz, Martínez, and Cremaschi. The shootout concluded with Inter Miami prevailing 5-4, securing a place in their second-ever club history final in just one week.

With this victory, Inter Miami advanced to the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final for the first time and their second-ever in club history in just one week, positioning them one step away from clinching their second official trophy.

Head coach Gerardo 'Tata' Martino reflected on the team's resilience. "The good thing about all this is that we didn’t put our heads down. We kept trying and decided on this semifinal. It’s not easy to completely turn a semifinal match around,” he said. “We’ve been able to overcome many matches, more as a result of the team’s character than its play, and obviously for having the best player in the world with us, and we each take turns to get behind him. The expectations keep growing as we face each challenge, but the exhaustion we have is overcome with the excitement we get from moving on in each stage.”

Miami's forthcoming endeavors will resume 2023 MLS regular season action, starting this Saturday, Aug. 26, at 7:30 p.m. local, where they will face the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena.

Inter Miami will host its first-ever final when the team faces the Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup final on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the DRV PNK Stadium.

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