2023 U.S. Open Cup final: Houston Dynamo 2-1 Inter Miami
An inactive Lionel Messi watched from a field-level suite as the South Florida side fell short in the second championship game in franchise history
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — No Lionel Messi, no Inter Miami victory, no second trophy in franchise history.
Inter Miami failed to capitalize on a golden chance to add another piece of hardware to its display cabinet on Wednesday night, suffering a 2-1 home loss to the Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup final at Drv Pnk Stadium.
The South Florida side tried to rally late in the match after substitute striker Josef Martinez scored a stoppage-time goal, but Inter Miami never found an equalizer to negate Amine Bassi’s decisive penalty kick.
Messi did not feature in the defeat for Inter Miami, as he was left off the match-day roster due to the “muscular fatigue” and “scar tissue issue” that has been plaguing him in recent weeks. The superstar instead watched from a field-level suite.
Tata Martino’s side will have to regroup quickly, as the first of the last five regular season matches that will decide if Inter Miami completes its playoff push takes place on Saturday. Inter Miami hosts New York City FC, which currently holds the final postseason berth and is five points ahead of the Herons in the standings, in that affair.
Houston Dynamo: Griffin Dorsey (Artur) 24’
Houston Dynamo: Amine Bassi (Penalty Kick) 33’
Inter Miami: Josef Martinez (Facundo Farias) 90+2’