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MLS Inter Miami CF

Inter Miami CF Advances to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 Past Miami FC in Penalties

April 26, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Inter Miami CF News Release


MIAMI - Inter Miami FC advances to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 edging out Miami FC in penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw in regulation.

"When you play a cup game, the most important thing is to be in the hat in the next round and we're in the hat for the next round... I had no doubt we were going to win. This team, regardless of the situation, never gives up" said head coach Phil Neville.

Inter Miami entered its U.S. Open Cup match with a few changes to the team's starting XI. Drake Callender started in goal; Chris McVey, Ryan Sailor, Kamal Miller, and Harvey Neville started in defense; Jean Mota and Dixon Arroyo anchored the center of midfield with Robert Taylor, Benjamin Cremaschi and Nicolás Stefanelli in front of them; Shanyder Borgelin led the team in attack.

Cremaschi and Borgelin slotted into the starting XI to make their first starts for the team after earning First Team contracts during the offseason. McVey, meanwhile, donned the captain's armband for the first time.

The hosts took an early lead two minutes into the match when Christian Sorto received a ball into the box, cut onto his right foot and scored to make it 1-0.

Inter Miami dominated possession through the remainder of the half, finishing with 78% possession, and took five shots to two from Miami FC, but the hosts retained control of the lead.

The second half began with a big chance coming from a Mota cross to Borgelin in the box, but the striker's header off the turf was saved by the Miami FC goalkeeper. The moment, however, was a sign of things to come.

In the 89th minute, Inter Miami's mounting pressure paid dividends. First, Pizarro made a long, driving run and squared a ball at the top of the box that Martínez dummied and left for Mota, who struck a shot that hit the inside of the post and barely stayed out. Moments later, Mota played a ball from the right side of the pitch to Borgelin at the far post, who found the back of the net with a header this time to equalize at 1-1.

The 1-1 scoreline held through the end of regulation and the match went into extra time. Inter Miami had several chances in the first extra time period, but it was Miami FC that tallied the go ahead goal in the 116th minute. Inter Miami kept the pressure on and in the 118th minute, equalized for the second time in the match, leveling the score at 2-2 when Sailor rose up to head in a cross from Negri, netting his first career goal.

In the final minutes of extra time, Inter Miami almost ended the match as DeAndre Yedlin hit a curling shot from the right side of the box that hit the far corner where the post and crossbar meet. Moments later, the whistle blew and the match went to a penalty kick shootout.

Mota, and second-half substitutes Josef Martínez, Victor Ulloa, and Franco Negri, all notched their penalty kicks followed by Miller who buried the game-winner to defeat Miami FC 5-3 on penalty kicks.

The team will find out its next opponent and match location in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 draw taking place on Thursday, April 27 at 2 p.m. ET. The draw will be livestreamed on the B/R App and B/R Football YouTube Channel.

Inter Miami now faces a quick turnaround ahead of its next match, heading on the road to face the Columbus Crew for MLS regular season play this Saturday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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