FC Cincinnati's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal is finally here, but it's taken on new meaning since FCC last played in the competition.
Cincinnati's been waiting for this match since it made it to the semifinal round back on June 6. FCC's quarterfinal victory was a handsome one, and the club was considered a frontrunner to win the Open Cup at that point. That sense was only heightened after Cincinnati was drawn to face Inter Miami CF at TQL Stadium in the penultimate round of the tournament.
But that was before Inter Miami reloaded during the secondary transfer window this summer, adding superstar Lionel Messi, along with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba − both decorated and celebrated players in their own right, respectively.
'Eyes of the world' on Cincinnati: Lionel Messi comes to TQL Stadium
It took just seven matches during the now-concluded Leagues Cup for Messi to lead Miami to a thrilling tournament victory, and Miami's sights are now set on the Open Cup.
This open cup run is likely FC Cincinnati's most legitimate run at a championship in club history. It wasn't long ago some thought it was a forgone conclusion FCC could coast to the title. Now, those ideas are being contested by a resurgent Miami and Messi, considered by many to be the greatest player the game's ever seen.
What you need to know about Miami
Inter Miami's 2023 season is a story with two chapters: Pre-Messi and post-Messi.
Pre-Messi, Miami was the worst side in MLS. The club dug itself a deep hole in the standings at 14 points back of the ninth and final MLS Cup playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. It's also sporting a minus-14 goal differential - the second-worst in MLS.
Perhaps because it faced lower-league sides in three of four Open Cup matches, Miami quietly advanced to the semifinal stage of the competition. Regardless of how it advanced, the club found shelter and positivity in the Open Cup during an otherwise grim 2023 campaign.
While the club's Open Cup slate might have had a softer touch, there's nothing soft about Miami now.
Post-Messi, Miami looks unstoppable. The club scored 20 goals in Leagues Cup. That's just two fewer than they scored in 18 regular-season matches prior to the tournament, and Messi accounted for 10 scores. With Messi up top, Sergio Busquets pulling the strings in the midfield and the club getting defensive help from Jordi Alba − all newly acquired during the secondary-transfer window in July − the rest of the team has blossomed under former Barcelona and Atlanta United manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino.
"The best player in the world, so that’s a good start," FC Cincinnati General Manager Chris Albright assessed of Miami. "The chemistry Messi and Busquets have, I think, frees all the other guys up to sort of use their talent and be free. Josef (Martinez) looks like the best version of himself that he’s looked like in a while. Some of the young kids, (Robert) Taylor, are able to play with – certainly without the pressure and expectations Messi, Busquets and Alba have. That leads to a pretty good formula to win games."
Miami's new formula is untested outside of Leagues Cup, though the clubs looks primed to improve its regular season form, too. Even as far back as it is in the standings, some anticipate a furious push for the postseason from the "Herons."
Miami certainly isn't planning to hold back in Open Cup. Martino on Monday announced Messi wouldn't be rested for Wednesday's match, eliminating a talking point some thought could come to fruition as Messi has started six straight games.
"Really, congratulations to them for dramatically improving their team in one window," FCC President Jeff Berding told The Enquirer.
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FC Cincinnati isn't backing down
In its first match since being eliminated in the Leagues Cup Round of 32 on Aug. 6, FC Cincinnati on Sunday lost to archrival Columbus Crew, 3-0. The performance wasn't one that would imbue many with confidence for the Messi showdown but FC Cincinnati still won't be a stepover.
This, after all, is still the club that leads the race for the Supporters Shield, the regular season championship awarded in MLS that carries with it significant incentives.
FCC also sent three players to the league's All-Star Game in Washington, D.C., including captain Luciano Acosta, an Argentine and admirer of Messi's who attended the World Cup finale and had a picture taken on the field with Messi in December.
More: FC Cincinnati's Luciano Acosta talks USMNT, U.S. citizenship and being the face of MLS
Cincinnati is healthy entering the Miami match - with one exception that could prove pivotal. FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said during a Tuesday news that conference center back Yerson Mosquera was ruled out of the game through injury.
Mosquera, a loanee from Wolverhampton Wanderers FC of the English Premier League, plays in a vital spot for Cincinnati, to the left fellow center back Matt Miazga and alongside wing-back Alvaro Barreal. His absence will likely be felt on Wednesday.
It remains to be seen if the wake of FC Cincinnati's latest result will impact proceedings against Miami.
FCC came out flat in a 3-0 loss to the Crew and created fewer chances as the match wore on. Cincinnati will have to turn the page quickly on the loss of Mosquera, as well as the defeat in Columbus, in order to survive Miami's challenge.
The game
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Wednesday | TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
TV/stream/radio: Star64 (local TV)/CBS Sports Golazo Network/ESPN 1530
All-time series: Inter Miami leads the all-time series against FC Cincinnati with a 4-2-1 record. Cincinnati is unbeaten against Miami (2-0-1) in the teams' last three matches.
Cincinnati.com prediction: FC Cincinnati 3, Inter Miami CF 2.
FC Cincinnati
Record (all competitions): 19-3-9
Goals for: 52
Goals against: 35
Coach: Pat Noonan - second year at FC Cincinnati
Projected starting XI:
Alec Kann, goalkeeper
Alvaro Barreal, right back
Ian Murphy, center back
Matt Miazga, center back
Nick Hagglund, center back
Santiago Arias, right back
Obinna Nwobodo, midfielder
Marco Angulo, midfielder
Luciano Acosta, midfielder
Brandon Vazquez, forward
Aaron Boupendza, forward
Inter Miami CF
Record (all competitions): 13-14-6
Goals for: 48
Goals against: 46
Coach: Gerardo "Tata" Martino - first year at Inter Miami
Projected starting XI:
Drake Callender, goalkeeper
Jordi Alba, left back
Kamal Miller, center back
Serhiy Kryvtsov, center back
DeAndre Yedlin, right back
Dixon Arroyo, midfielder
Sergio Busquets, midfielder
Benjamin Cremaschi, midfielder
Robert Taylor, winger/forward
Josef Martinez, forward
Lionel Messi, winger/forward
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