The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals return to Cincinnati, Ohio, as FC Cincinnati hosts the hottest club in MLS and the most popular player in the world as they look to earn passage to a cup final and inch closer to the club’s first trophy since joining MLS.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF stand in the way of The Orange and Blue, fresh off Miami’s run to the championship of the Leagues Cup, and are looking to earn more.
FC Cincinnati enters the semifinals at the top of the MLS table but is looking to avenge a loss to in-state rival Columbus Crew in their most recent match. The Orange and Blue are undefeated in games following a loss this season.
“There’s no relief after a performance like that,” head coach Pat Noonan said after losing to Columbus Crew and looking ahead to the match with Inter Miami CF. “You try to use some of the things that we saw (against Columbus) in a negative way to build and have a better overall team performance on Wednesday.”
The return to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals is a milestone moment for The Orange and Blue. FC Cincinnati went to the semifinal in 2017 before falling to New York Red Bulls in extra time.
Inter Miami has not lost since Lionel Messi debuted with the club on July 12 against Liga MX side Cruz Azul.
To get to the semifinal, FC Cincinnati has won four matches. Taking down Louisville City, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, and Pittsburgh Riverhounds FC. Inter Miami CF has faced Miami FC, Charleston Battery, Nashville SC, and Birmingham Legion FC.
FC CINCINNATI v.s. Inter Miami – Wednesday, August, 23, 2023 – 7:00 p.m. ET – TQL Stadium
Watch: Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network, Star 64 (Local), Telemundo (Spanish), Peacock (Spanish)
Radio: ESPN 1530
Radio Talent: Tom Gelehrter (play-by-play), Kevin McCloskey (Analyst)
ALL-TIME SERIES
While Inter Miami CF owns the all-time head-to-head record with FC Cincinnati 4-2-1, The Orange and Blue have begun to turn the tide. FCC has earned points in the club's last three matches, earning two wins and a draw since the start of last season.
In the matchup with The Herrons back in April, Yerson Mosquera scored the lone goal as The Orange and Blue earned the 1-0 victory at TQL Stadium.
FC CINCINNATI NOTES
Streak Stoppers – FC Cincinnati are undefeated in matches following a loss across all competitions this season. With just two losses this season, The Orange and Blue followed up their loss to St. Louis City SC with a 2-1 win over Portland Timbers and their loss to D.C. United with a draw against New England Revolution.
FC Cincinnati has not lost consecutive games since May 2022.
Undefeated at home – TQL Stadium have been a fortress for The Orange and Blue in 2023, going undefeated at home across all competitions with a 15-0-3 record. In the club’s U.S. Open Cup history, FCC is 10-1-2 at home across all venues.
Back in the semifinals – FC Cincinnati have reached the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals for the second time in club history. The Orange and Blue made the semis in 2017 as a USL side before falling to New York Red Bulls in extra time.
FCC is 12-4-3 all-time in U.S. Open Cup since its first appearance in America’s oldest Cup in 2016.
Undefeated in net – Goalkeeper Alec Kann is undefeated across all competitions this season. Kann has been key to the club’s success in cup play this season, starting all matches in the U.S. Open Cup and Leagues Cup thus far.
In seven starts this season, Kann has made 19 saves for The Orange and Blue, earned a 4-0-3 record, and won two penalty shootouts.
Scoring touch – Brandon Vazquez leads FC Cincinnati in goal scoring in the 2023 edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. With two goals across four games, Vazquez is tied for ninth among all scorers in the tournament, trailing first place by two goals.
Álvaro Barreal leads FC Cincinnati all-time in goal creation, earning four goals and three assists since 2022. Barreal has three assists this season and is tied for most in the 2023 competition. His golazo against Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the Quarterfinals earned him the No. 1 spot on June 6’s ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 plays.
SCOUTING INTER MIAMI CF (5-14-3, 18 PTS., 15th MLS EASTERN CONFERENCE. Leagues Cup Champions)
Inter Miami CF has totally overhauled its roster since the start of Leagues Cup play and has added superstar talent hitherto unseen in MLS since the days of David Beckham with the LA Galaxy.
Lionel Messi has changed the fabric of Inter Miami CF and MLS since his arrival with the club, scoring 10 goals in seven matches and leading his club to its first-ever trophy just weeks after arriving in Miami.
The Herons currently sit in last place in the MLS table but have brought in six new players in the transfer window to augment their club. In addition to Messi, Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets, left back Jordi Alba joined the club, and three U-22 initiative signings also have energized the club.
A new manager also came in to direct the club, as legendary head coach Tata Martino took the helm of the team just before Messi’s arrival. Martino has been the head coach of the Argentine, Mexican, and Paraguayan national teams, and on the club level, managed Barcelona from 2013-2014 and led Atlanta United FC to the MLS Cup in 2018.
