Inter Miami vs Cincinnati: Messi Leads a Wild 5-3 MLS Thriller in Ohio
Inter Miami’s visit to FC Cincinnati had all the ingredients of a high-stakes Eastern Conference test: a sold-out stadium, playoff implications, a confident home side, and one of Major League Soccer’s most dangerous attacks arriving in Ohio. By the final whistle, it had become something bigger — a chaotic, eight-goal statement game that underlined both Miami’s attacking power and Cincinnati’s defensive concerns.
- A Match Built on Pressure Before Kickoff
- Messi Opens the Door for Miami
- Cincinnati Twice Takes Control — But Cannot Hold It
- Miami’s Late Surge Turns the Match
- The Numbers Tell the Story
- Messi Remains the Difference-Maker
- What It Means for Cincinnati
- What It Means for Inter Miami
- Broadcast and Fan Access
- A Result That Could Shape the Eastern Conference Race
Inter Miami defeated FC Cincinnati 5-3 at TQL Stadium on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, turning a match that Cincinnati twice led in the second half into a dramatic road victory. Lionel Messi scored twice and added an assist, while late goals from Mateo Silvetti and Germán Berterame, plus an own goal by Roman Celentano, completed Miami’s comeback.
A Match Built on Pressure Before Kickoff
This fixture already carried weight before the opening whistle. Cincinnati entered the night unbeaten in five games but still searching for defensive stability. After 12 rounds, the team remained in sixth place and had already conceded 27 goals, a worrying number for a side trying to protect its playoff position.
Inter Miami, meanwhile, arrived as one of the Eastern Conference’s leading teams, powered by an attack that had produced 26 goals in 12 matches. The contrast was clear: Cincinnati had momentum, but Miami had the sharper attacking identity.
The setting matched the stakes. TQL Stadium hosted a sellout crowd of 25,513, with kickoff at 7:40 p.m. ET under clear skies and 59-degree weather.
Messi Opens the Door for Miami
Miami struck first in the 24th minute through Lionel Messi, giving the visitors an early advantage and immediately forcing Cincinnati to chase the match. The goal fit the larger pattern of Miami’s season: when space appears, their attack rarely needs repeated invitations.
Cincinnati responded before halftime. In the 41st minute, Kévin Denkey converted from the penalty spot to bring the score level at 1-1. It was a significant personal milestone as well: Denkey’s penalty marked his 30th career goal for FC Cincinnati.
The equalizer changed the tone going into the break. Cincinnati had absorbed the first major blow and answered it. But the second half would expose the central tension of the night: every Cincinnati surge came with defensive vulnerability behind it.
Cincinnati Twice Takes Control — But Cannot Hold It
The home side came out sharply after halftime. Pavel Bucha put Cincinnati ahead in the 49th minute, finishing a move assisted by Bryan Ramirez and Denkey. It was another milestone moment, as Bucha reached 15 goals for FC Cincinnati, becoming the sixth player in club history with at least 15 goals and 15 assists for the team.
Miami’s reply was immediate enough to prevent the match from settling. Messi scored again in the 55th minute, assisted by Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suárez, restoring parity at 2-2.
Cincinnati then produced one of the match’s standout moments in the 64th minute when Evander scored to make it 3-2. The goal continued his excellent run, marking his third consecutive match with a goal for Cincinnati. It also gave him his 50th career goal contribution for the club, making him only the third player in team history to reach that mark after Acosta and Vazquez.
At that stage, Cincinnati had momentum, the crowd, and a lead. What they did not have was control.
Miami’s Late Surge Turns the Match
The final 15 minutes belonged to Inter Miami.
Mateo Silvetti, who came on for Luis Suárez in the 76th minute, equalized in the 79th minute after a Messi assist. That goal made it 3-3 and shifted the pressure decisively back onto Cincinnati’s defense.
Five minutes later, Germán Berterame scored in the 84th minute to put Miami ahead 4-3. The comeback was completed in the 89th minute when Roman Celentano’s own goal gave Miami a 5-3 lead and sealed a painful finish for the hosts.
For Miami, it was another demonstration of late-game ruthlessness. For Cincinnati, it was a reminder that scoring three goals against an elite opponent is not enough when defensive lapses continue to accumulate.
The Numbers Tell the Story
The match statistics reflected Miami’s sharper attacking edge. Inter Miami produced 17 shots to Cincinnati’s 10 and registered six shots on goal compared with Cincinnati’s three. Miami also dominated the corner count, earning eight corners while Cincinnati managed only one.
Possession was almost even, with Cincinnati at 50.6% and Miami at 49.4%, but the more important difference came in attacking penetration. Flashscore’s match data listed Miami with 42 touches in the opposition box compared with Cincinnati’s 12, while expected goals favored Miami 2.29 to 1.75.
Those figures help explain why the final score felt dramatic but not accidental. Cincinnati had efficient moments, especially through Denkey, Bucha, and Evander. Miami, however, created more sustained danger and repeatedly forced Cincinnati’s back line into difficult decisions.
Messi Remains the Difference-Maker
Messi’s two goals and one assist made him the defining figure of the match. His first-half opener gave Miami control, his second-half equalizer stopped Cincinnati from building momentum, and his assist for Silvetti triggered the late comeback.
The performance also continued a strong run of form for Inter Miami’s captain. Official MLS video coverage highlighted the match under the headline “Lionel Messi’s scorching pre-World Cup form leads Inter Miami to big win vs. Cincy,” reinforcing how central he remains to Miami’s competitive identity.
Miami’s attack was not a one-man show, though. De Paul assisted twice, Suárez contributed to Messi’s second goal, Silvetti scored off the bench, and Berterame delivered the decisive go-ahead finish. That depth is what made the comeback so difficult for Cincinnati to resist.
What It Means for Cincinnati
For FC Cincinnati, this defeat will sting because the team did enough in attack to win many MLS matches. Denkey finished with one goal and two assists, setting a career high for assists and matching a career high with three goal contributions. Cincinnati also remained perfect from the penalty spot in MLS play this season, converting its fifth penalty in five attempts — the most converted penalties in the league this season.
But the broader issue remains defensive balance. Cincinnati led 2-1 and 3-2 at home and still lost by two goals. That is the kind of result that can become costly in a conference race where margins are thin.
There were positives: Evander’s form, Denkey’s production, Bucha’s continued rise, and the energy of another sold-out TQL Stadium crowd. Yet the match also offered a clear warning. Cincinnati’s attacking quality is real, but unless the defensive structure improves, the team risks turning strong performances into dropped points.
What It Means for Inter Miami
For Inter Miami, the win strengthened their image as one of the East’s most dangerous teams. The result showed not only technical superiority in key attacking moments but also resilience away from home.
Associated Press reported that the victory extended Miami’s road winning streak to seven, a significant marker for a team chasing higher positioning in the conference.
The win also reinforced Miami’s ability to respond under pressure. They trailed twice in the second half and still scored the match’s final three goals. That is the profile of a team comfortable in chaos — and one with enough firepower to punish opponents even after falling behind.
Broadcast and Fan Access
The match was available through MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, the league’s official global streaming platform. Coverage was accessible on mobile devices, tablets, and computers. For radio listeners in the United States, English commentary was available on ESPN 1530, while Spanish-language coverage was carried on La Mega 101.5 FM.
Club channels also provided pre- and post-match coverage, but live video streaming was limited to the official league streaming service.
A Result That Could Shape the Eastern Conference Race
Inter Miami’s 5-3 win over FC Cincinnati was more than an entertaining scoreline. It was a revealing conference matchup between a team with elite attacking rhythm and a team still trying to reconcile ambition with defensive fragility.
Cincinnati showed enough quality to trouble one of the league’s strongest sides. Miami showed why giving them repeated openings is dangerous. In a playoff race where every mistake can alter the standings, that difference mattered.
For Cincinnati, the next challenge is immediate: they travel to face San Diego FC on Saturday, May 16, before returning home to play Orlando City SC on May 23. For Miami, the message from Ohio is clear — their attack can travel, their stars remain decisive, and no lead against them feels safe.
