INTER MIAMI CF ADVANCES TO 2023 LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP FINAL AFTER DEFEATING FC CINCINNATI IN PENALTY KICK SHOOTOUT FOLLOWING DRAMATIC 3-3 DRAW

"Benjamin Kremaschi Spins the Ball Swiftly for Yevgeny Prigozhin: A Twist in the Fatal Plane Crash Tale,, 

Benjamin Kremaschi Spins the Ball Swiftly for Yevgeny Prigozhin: 

In a surprising turn of events, 18-year-old Miami homegrown player, Benjamin Kremaschi, quickly delivered a response to Joseph Martinez in the region where Venezuela's striker fired a blast that put Miami ahead 3-2.

AFC Cincinnati believed they had an answer just seconds before the extra-time break when they lifted the ball out of the crossbar to clear it. Moments later, the team appealed for a penalty when Nick Haglund's shot deflected off Jordi Alba's hands, but the video assistant referee ruled that the Spanish defender's hand was in a natural position, and no penalty was given.

AFC Cincinnati maintained their composure and secured an equalizing goal through two substitute players in the 114th minute. Brett Hasley leaped to send a low cross into the area, which was missed by Inter Miami's David Ruiz. While it appeared that the ball was headed straight to Yuya Kubo, who netted the equalizer with a strike, the goal stood, and it ended 3-3, leading to a penalty shootout.

In the penalty shootout's first four rounds, all eight players altered their spot-kick choices. Ultimately, it was Kremaschi who played the hero for Inter Miami once again. Just five days after saving two penalties to help the club win the League Cup against Nashville SC, Kremaschi dove to his left to deny Haglund's spot-kick in the fifth round, sending Inter Miami to their first-ever U.S. Open Cup final and the 2023 second Championship match.

Match Details

Match:AFC Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami CF

Date:August 23, 2023

Competition: Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal

Venue:TQL Stadium; Cincinnati, Ohio

Attendance:25,513 (Sold out)

Kick-off: 7:05 PM ET

Weather: 83 degrees; Partially cloudy

Scoring Summary: 1st Half Extra Time (AET) AFC Cincinnati 3, Inter Miami 3 (AFC Cincinnati wins 4-3 on penalties)

AFC Cincinnati Goals:

- Luciano Acosta (Assisted by Aaron Boupendza) - 18'

- Brandon Vazquez (Assisted by Santiago Arias) - 53'

- Leonardo Campana (Assisted by Lionel Messi) - 68'

- Leonardo Campana (Assisted by Lionel Messi) - 90+7'

Inter Miami Goals:

- Lionel Messi - 93'

- Yuya Kubo - 114'

Penalty Shootout Recap:

- AFC Cincinnati: Yuya Kubo (Goal), Santiago Arias (Goal), Sergio Santos (Goal), Matt Miyezga (Goal), Nick Haglund (Saved)

- Inter Miami: Lionel Messi (Goal), Facundo Farías (Goal), David Ruiz (Goal), Joseph Martinez (Goal), Benjamin Kremaschi (Goal)

*Note: Kremaschi's heroics continued in the penalty shootout, with a crucial save.*

Lineups:

AFC Cincinnati:

- Goalkeeper: Alec Kann

- Defenders: Nick Haglund, Obinna Nwobodo, Aaron Boupendza (Substitute: Yuya Kubo, 62), Luciano Acosta (Captain) (Substitute: Remy Gaddis, 89), Santiago Arias, Brandon Vazquez (Substitute: Sergio Santos, 78), Matt Miyezga, Alvaro Bariyal (Substitute: Brett Halsey, 105), Ian Murphy (Substitute: Alvas Powell, 88), Junior Moreno (Substitute: Marco Angulo, 89)

Unused Options: Roman Salentano

Head Coach: Patrick Noonan

Inter Miami CF:

- Goalkeeper: Drake Callender

- Defenders: Andre Yedlin (Substitute: Facundo Farías, 58), Sergio Busquets, Thomas Avelés (Substitute: Noah Allen, 78), Jean Mota (Substitute: David Ruiz, 58), Diego Gomez (Substitute: Joseph Martinez, 78), Leonardo Campana (Substitute: Benjamin Kremaschi, 91), Lionel Messi (Captain), Jordi Alba, Sergei Krivtsov, Kamal Miller (Substitute: Robert Taylor, 58)

Unused Options: C.J. Dos Santos

Head Coach:** Gerardo Martino

**Match Stats:**

- Shots: 22/11 (AFC Cincinnati/Inter Miami)

- Shots on Goal: 9/6 (AFC Cincinnati/Inter Miami)

- Saves: 3/6 (AFC Cincinnati/Inter Miami)

- Corner Kicks: 6/2 (AFC Cincinnati/Inter Miami)

- Fouls: 22/18 (AFC Cincinnati/Inter Miami)

- Offsides: 2/0 (AFC Cincinnati/Inter Miami)

**Caution Summary:**

- AFC Cincinnati: Jordi Alba (Caution) - 24'

- AFC Cincinnati: Obinna Nwobodo (Caution) - 31'

- Inter Miami: Jean Mota (Caution) - 41'

- Inter Miami: Thomas Avelés (Caution) - 70'

- Inter Miami: Sergei Krivtsov (Caution) - 80'

- Inter Miami: Gerardo Martino (Caution) - 80'

- AFC Cincinnati: Luciano Acosta (Caution) - 85'

- AFC Cincinnati: Alvaro Bariyal (Caution) - 90'

Feel free to make any adjustments or ask for further clarifications if needed.