The Lionel Messi effect is still being felt across the USA as he once inspired his team Inter Miami to reach the USA Open Cup final after he made two assists that saw his side recover from two goals down to force an extra-time play before the game against FC Cincinnati was decided in a penalty shootout. It was a dramatic encounter at Ohio as Messi's outfit was staring down the barrel of defeat but thanks to strikes from  Leonardo Campana that forced the game to go into extra time and then a goal from Josef Martinez was later equalized and the fixture had to go into a penalty shootout where Lionel Messi's side emerged victorious.  

Messi was the man of the game again as all these events unfolded as he came to the fore deep into stoppage time, delivering an inch-perfect cross onto the head of Campana to record his second assist and force extra-time. Josef Martinez then looked as if he had won it for Inter Miami only for Cincinnati's Yuya Kubo to net in a 114th-minute equalizer to send the enthralling encounter to penalties. It was Miami's second shootout in just a span of less than a week after their Leagues Cup final triumph over Nashville last Weekend. Goalkeeper Drake Callender once again proved to be the hero in the shootout after Messi converted his spot-kick. 

Callender denied Cincinnati's Nick Hagglund a goal before Benjamin Cremaschi fired home the winning penalty sending Inter Miami players and fans into a moment of celebration. Following this latest victory, Inter Miami's boss Gerardo Martino took the opportunity to praise Lionel Messi saying: "He's a leader on the pitch and with the group he's shown it for a long time, not only here with Miami but also with Argentina. Luckily, players get behind his leadership and enthusiasm in his response for every moment, no matter the circumstances and today he showed it more as a conductor than a finisher and you saw that with the pass late in the match but he makes difficult plays look easy." The coach from the rival camp Pat Noonan, also did not lack something to say about the FIFA 2022 World Cup winner as he said: "He makes the delivery on the plays that matter and that’s where he's a difference-maker." 

Inter Miami will now return to Major League Soccer action this weekend when they face New York Red Bulls on Saturday. They will play hosts to the USA Open Cup final late next month against Houston Dynamo who beat Real Salt Lake at extra time to book their tickets to the final. 

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(Image: New Straits Times)