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Inter Miami CF scores three late goals to defeat FC Cincinnati, 5-3
TL;DR
Inter Miami CF scored three late goals to secure a 5-3 victory over FC Cincinnati. The match showcased a thrilling comeback by Miami in the final minutes.
Key points
- Inter Miami CF scored three late goals
- Final score was 5-3
- Match featured a thrilling comeback
- Took place on February 21
FC Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund (right) heads the ball on goal during the first half against Atlanta United FC at TQL Stadium Feb. 21.
FC Cincinnati fans in The Bailey section wave flags and cheer on the team during the first half against Atlanta United FC at TQL Stadium Feb. 21.
FC Cincinnati midfielder Evander (10) reaches for his calf after suffering an injury during the first half against Atlanta United FC at TQL Stadium Feb. 21.
FC Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund (4) passes forward during the first half of their MLS season opener against Atlanta United FC at TQL Stadium Feb. 21.
Players warm up during FC Cincinnati training Feb. 20, 2026 at Mercy Health Training Center in Milford.
Players work on their ball skills during FC Cincinnati training Feb. 20, 2026 at Mercy Health Training Center in Milford.
New players for the 2026 season, from left, Bryan Ramirez, Tom Barlow and Kyle Smith warm up during FC Cincinnati training Feb. 20, 2026 at Mercy Health Training Center in Milford.
Kevin Denkey with the ball as FC Cincinnati beat O&M FC 4-0 in the first game of the Concacaf Champions Cup Feb. 18, 2026 in the Dominican Republic.
Tom Barlow passes the ball as FC Cincinnati beat O&M FC 4-0 in the first game of the Concacaf Champions Cup Feb. 18, 2026 in the Dominican Republic.
La Salle graduate Kyle Smith plays the ball in his first game with the club as FC Cincinnati beat O&M FC 4-0 in the first game of the Concacaf Champions Cup Feb. 18, 2026 in the Dominican Republic.
FC Cincinnati's TQL Stadium previewed it's 2026 food selections under Executive Chef Sheldon and local affiliates. President and Co-CEO of FC Cincinnati, Jeff Berding, speaks at the event.
Bryan Ramirez of FC Cincinnati passes the ball as FC Cincinnati lost 1-0 at Minnesota United in Major League Soccer action Feb. 28, 2026
Miles Robinson surveys the field as FC Cincinnati lost 1-0 at Minnesota United in Major League Soccer action Feb. 28, 2026
Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; FC Cincinnati forward Ayoub Jabbari (99) keeps his eye on the ball as New England Revolution defender Mamadou Fofana (2) comes from behind during the first half at Gillette Stadium.
Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution defender Brayan Ceballos (3) celebrates his first goal during the first half on FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano (18) at Gillette Stadium.
Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution defender William Sands (23) and FC Cincinnati midfielder Obinna Nwobodo (5) go for a loose ball during the first half at Gillette Stadium.
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
FC Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund (right) heads the ball on goal during the first half against Atlanta United FC at TQL Stadium Feb. 21.
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
FC Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund (right) heads the ball on goal during the first half against Atlanta United FC at TQL Stadium Feb. 21.
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
FC Cincinnati fans in The Bailey section wave flags and cheer on the team during the first half against Atlanta United FC at TQL Stadium Feb. 21.
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
FC Cincinnati midfielder Evander (10) reaches for his calf after suffering an injury during the first half against Atlanta United FC at TQL Stadium Feb. 21.
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
FC Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund (4) passes forward during the first half of their MLS season opener against Atlanta United FC at TQL Stadium Feb. 21.
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
Players warm up during FC Cincinnati training Feb. 20, 2026 at Mercy Health Training Center in Milford.
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
Players work on their ball skills during FC Cincinnati training Feb. 20, 2026 at Mercy Health Training Center in Milford.
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
New players for the 2026 season, from left, Bryan Ramirez, Tom Barlow and Kyle Smith warm up during FC Cincinnati training Feb. 20, 2026 at Mercy Health Training Center in Milford.
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
Kevin Denkey with the ball as FC Cincinnati beat O&M FC 4-0 in the first game of the Concacaf Champions Cup Feb. 18, 2026 in the Dominican Republic.
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
Tom Barlow passes the ball as FC Cincinnati beat O&M FC 4-0 in the first game of the Concacaf Champions Cup Feb. 18, 2026 in the Dominican Republic.
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
La Salle graduate Kyle Smith plays the ball in his first game with the club as FC Cincinnati beat O&M FC 4-0 in the first game of the Concacaf Champions Cup Feb. 18, 2026 in the Dominican Republic.
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
FC Cincinnati's TQL Stadium previewed it's 2026 food selections under Executive Chef Sheldon and local affiliates. President and Co-CEO of FC Cincinnati, Jeff Berding, speaks at the event.
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
Bryan Ramirez of FC Cincinnati passes the ball as FC Cincinnati lost 1-0 at Minnesota United in Major League Soccer action Feb. 28, 2026
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
Miles Robinson surveys the field as FC Cincinnati lost 1-0 at Minnesota United in Major League Soccer action Feb. 28, 2026
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; FC Cincinnati forward Ayoub Jabbari (99) keeps his eye on the ball as New England Revolution defender Mamadou Fofana (2) comes from behind during the first half at Gillette Stadium.
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution defender Brayan Ceballos (3) celebrates his first goal during the first half on FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano (18) at Gillette Stadium.
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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season
Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution defender William Sands (23) and FC Cincinnati midfielder Obinna Nwobodo (5) go for a loose ball during the first half at Gillette Stadium.
To no one’s surprise, FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami CF engaged in a scorefest May 13 at TQL Stadium.
A hat trick by one of the best goalscorers in the history of the game, Lionel Messi, sparked Miami to a 5-3 win. Miami scored three times from the 79th minute on to come from behind.
A sellout crowd of 25,513 witnessed the showdown, the club’s sixth home sellout of the season.
Lionel Messi gets his shot past FC Cincinnati goaltender Roman Celentano in the first half of the May 13 match at TQL Stadium on May 13, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
FC Cincinnati falls to 4-5-4, staying at 16 points, taking its first loss since April 4 at Red Bull New York. Miami improves to 7-2-4 for 25 points, improving to 7-1-1 on the road this season. Miami moved into second place in the Eastern Conference behind Nashville. Cincinnati started the night tied for fifth but could drop depending on games later on.
Second half highlights as FC Cincinnati squandered a late lead
Evander of FC Cincinnati celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the MLS match between FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami CF at TQL Stadium on May 13.
Cincinnati took a 3-2 lead in the 64th minute.
Evander fired a rocket from the top of the 18 into the top left corner. Deneky passed ahead to him, then he maneuvered around two defenders, and no one stepped up to him. It is Evander’s seventh goal of the season.
Miami tied it in the 80th minute, 3-3.
After a Cincy turnover, Rodrigo De Paul quickly found Messi in transition, who delivered to Mateo Silvetti. Silvetti, playing his first game in a month, maneuvered in space and scored from the top of the box for his fourth of the season.
Miami took a 4-3 lead in the 83rd. A Messi free kick from 35 yds was saved by Cincy keeper Roman Celentano. He collided with Andrei Chirila, which knocked the ball out of his hands. Miami’s German Berterame pounced on the rebound to give Miami the lead, his fourth goal of the season.
Chirila landed hard after the collision and was taken out of the game.
Miami took a 5-3 lead when Messi made a sliding shot after a cross from Silvetti. The ball went off the post, then off Roman Celentano, who was on his stomach trying to get the ball, then in. Messi was credited with the goal and a hat trick.
Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the MLS match between FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami CF at TQL Stadium on May 13.
FC Cincinnati took a 2-1 lead in the 49th minute.
Pavel Bucha scored from close range. He took a crossing pass from Bryan Ramirez after Denkey found him on the left side in transition.
It was Bucha’s second goal of the MLS season and the second assist for Ramirez. Bucha was hit in the head late in the first half and examined by trainers, but stayed in the game.
Fans march to TQL Stadium before the match between Inter Miami CF and FC Cincinnati May 13.
Moments later, Messi had a free kick from 30 yards saved by Celentano.
Messi scored again in the 56th minute to tie it, 2-2. He had a nice give-and-go with Rodrigo De Paul, who dribbled near the end line and crossed to him from the right side. Messi was unmarked and scored easily from near the penalty spot.
In the 62nd minute, Luis Suarez missed an open shot that Celentano saved, set up by a quick transition by Miami.
Miami ended with 17 shots to 10 for Cincinnati, six on target. After an even first half, Miami controlled the expected-goals mark, with 4 to 1.6 for the home team.
First half highlights
Messi scored from close range in the 24th off a turnover by Matt Miazga. Miazga tried to pass to a teammate on the side but the pass went straight to Messi.
He had a goal in the fifth minute waved off by offsides.
In the 32nd minute, Cincinnati won a corner kick, which Evander placed right in front of the goal line but the ball was cleared away.
FC Cincinnati's Kévin Denkey let's loose a penalty shot for a goal that tied the match with Inter Miami at 1-1 in the first half TQL Stadium on May 13.
In the 42nd minute, a Kevin Denkey penalty kick tied it up. Denkey drew the PK after collecting a good pass into the box by Pavel Bucha and being grabbed by Gonzalo Lujan. Denkey converted for his team-high eighth goal of the season.
The first half was tied 1-1 and virtually even on statistics. Both sides had seven shots, one on goal, and 1.1 expected goals. Neither keeper made a save.
What’s next for FC Cincinnati?
Cincinnati heads to the West Coast to play San Diego FC 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16. It is the first meeting between the teams. San Diego, 3-5-4 for 13 points, was set to play Austin later May 13. Cincinnati will leave for California on May 14.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lionel Messi has hat trick as Inter Miami CF defeats FC Cincinnati
Q&A
What was the final score of the Inter Miami CF vs FC Cincinnati match?
The final score was Inter Miami CF 5, FC Cincinnati 3.
How did Inter Miami CF manage to win against FC Cincinnati?
Inter Miami CF scored three late goals, turning the match in their favor in the final minutes.
When did the match between Inter Miami CF and FC Cincinnati take place?
The match took place on February 21.
Who scored the late goals for Inter Miami CF in their victory?
The article does not specify the players who scored the late goals for Inter Miami CF.
