Messi’s Late Surge Breaks Cincinnati in Wild 5-3 Match at TQL Stadium

FC Cincinnati looked poised to deliver one of its biggest results of the season Wednesday night at TQL Stadium. Instead, the night unraveled in devastating fashion.

After taking the lead twice in the second half, Cincinnati collapsed late and fell 5-3 to Inter Miami CF in front of a sold-out crowd on 513 Day. Lionel Messi once again proved decisive, scoring twice as Miami erased a 3-2 deficit over the final 11 minutes.

The loss snapped Cincinnati’s six-match unbeaten streak and spoiled what had been, for long stretches, one of the club’s strongest attacking performances of the season.

Miami struck first in the 24th minute after a costly turnover near the Cincinnati penalty area allowed Messi to capitalize and put the visitors ahead 1-0. Cincinnati settled into the match and answered before halftime when Kévin Denkey converted a penalty in the 41st minute after being pulled down inside the box.

FC Cincinnati carried that momentum into the second half.

Just four minutes after the restart, Pavel Bucha finished a flowing attacking sequence started by Denkey and assisted by Bryan Ramírez to give Cincinnati a 2-1 lead. Miami responded quickly, however, as Messi found his second goal of the night in the 55th minute to level the match once again.

The atmosphere inside TQL Stadium surged again in the 64th minute when Evander stepped into space outside the box and unleashed a strike into the top corner, restoring Cincinnati’s lead at 3-2. With the crowd roaring and momentum firmly on Cincinnati’s side, the Orange and Blue appeared on the verge of a signature victory over one of MLS’s biggest clubs.

Then everything shifted.

In the 79th minute, substitute Mateo Silvetti slipped behind the Cincinnati defense and finished Miami’s equalizer to make it 3-3. Five minutes later, a miscommunication and collision between Roman Celentano and Andrei Chirila left the ball loose in front of goal, allowing Germán Berterame to put Miami ahead for the first time since the opening half.

Miami added one final dagger in the closing moments when Messi’s effort deflected off the post and into the net off Celentano for an own goal, sealing the 5-3 result and silencing a crowd that had spent most of the night believing Cincinnati had done enough.

For long stretches, Cincinnati matched Miami punch for punch. Denkey finished with a goal and two assists, Bucha added a goal, and Evander continued his standout run of form in attack. But defensive lapses and late-game chaos ultimately overshadowed one of the club’s most dangerous offensive performances of the year.