Inter Miami Rally Late to Win Thriller in Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, OH - Cincinnati played host to Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF on Cincinnati Day, May 13th, in an eight goal thriller at TQL Stadium.

Cincinnati's area code, 513, lends itself to the date May 13th being dubbed "Cincinnati Day". And for the first time since 2017, before the club joined MLS, FC Cincinnati played a match on the unofficial holiday.

FC Cincinnati lost to Orlando City B on May 13, 2017, a 0-2 loss at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium. Nine years later, FC Cincinnati lost by a two goal margin at home on the same day against a Florida based club.

(Fun fact: Goals for Orlando City B that night were scored by now Brooklyn FC's Pierre Da Silva (who spent two seasons in Miami... with USL's Miami FC, where one Jürgen Locadia now plays) and Toronto FC's Richie Laryea!)

FC Cincinnati conceded an early goal to Lionel Messi in the 24th minute, when a clearance from Matt Miazga went straight to Messi. Messi didn't exactly have time to react either, the ball just deflecting off the Argentine into the Cincinnati net. Miazga called that opening goal a "bit unlucky" after the match, saying he was "happy with the team's personality" to keep playing after going down.

Cincinnati indeed bounced back, with Kévin Denkey drawing a penalty kick and scoring from the spot in the 41st minute to have the teams tied at the halftime break.

Pavel Bucha scored early in the second half on a ball cross across the box by fellow wingback Bryan Ramírez. Rodrigo De Paul responded with an assist of his own, picking out fellow countryman Lionel Messi in the 55th minute of the match.

Evander scored a golazo from outside the box in the 64th minute to put the hosts up again, picking out the top left corner of goal past Dayne St. Clair.

Then the triple substitutions rolled in.

The 72nd minute of the match saw a triple change for FC Cincinnati that seemed to be the catalyst of their loss.

Centerbacks Matt Miazga and Miles Robinson, both on minutes restrictions coming into Wednesday's match, both exited the match alongside forward Kenji Mboma Dem for centerbacks Nick Hagglund and Andrei Chirila, along with midfielder Obinna Nwobodo. Cincinnati conceded two goals in just over 10 minutes after the substitutions.

Substitute Mateo Silvetti receives a ball through from Messi into the box and slots in his shot in the 79th minute to level the score.

Five minutes later, Chirila and Celentano go up for a set piece delivery into the box. Neither clearly communicate well enough as they collide, and Celentano loses control of the ball. Berterame scores. Chirila exits the match on concussion protocol.

What's now assessed as an own-goal, Messi gets an shot off from inside the box that hits off the right post and off the back of Celentano and into the left side netting in the 89th minute of the match.

10 minutes, 3 goals.

Lineups:

FC Cincinnati (3-4-1-2): 18 Celentano; 24 Smith, 21 Miazga, 12 Robinson; 20 Bucha, 22 Valenzuela, 11 Gidi, 29 Ramírez; 10 Evander; 17 Mboma Dem, 9 Denkey

Unused Substitues: 13 Louro, 4 Hagglund, 5 Nwobodo, 16, 27 Anunga, 55 Lajhar, 66 Echenique, 88 Chirila, 99 Jabbari

Head Coach: Pat Noonan

Inter Miami CF (4-3-3): 97 St. Clair; 17 Fray, 2 Luján, 16 Micael, 3 Reguilón (4 Mura 65'); 7 De Paul, 42 Bright, 8 Segovia; 10 Messi, 9 Suárez (24 Silvetti 77'), 19 Berterame

Unused Substitutes: 34 Rios Novo, 4 Mura, 22 Ayala, 24 Silvetti, 37 Falcón, 41 Ruíz, 56 Pinter, 59 Plambeck, 79 Abadia-Reda

Head Coach: Guillermo Hoyos

Scoring Summary:

24' Lionel Messi - Inter Miami CF

41' Kévin Denkey (PK) - FC Cincinnati

49' Pavel Bucha (Assist: Bryan Ramírez) - FC Cincinnati

55' Lionel Messi (Assist: Rodrigo De Paul) - Inter Miami CF

64' Evander (Assist: Kévin Denkey) - FC Cincinnati

79' Mateo Silvetto (Assist: Lionel Messi) - Inter Miami CF

84' Germán Berterame - Inter Miami CF

89' Roman Celentano (OG) - Inter Miami CF