Without Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba, Inter Miami saw no ground in the MLS final in Cincinnati and lost the top spot in the Eastern Conference to their rivals.
Cincinnati professional Luciano Acosta celebrated a goal against Inter Miami around Sergio Busquets (on the ground).
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Led by the double packer Yuya Kubo, once under contract with 1. FC Nürnberg, and the productive Luciano Acosta (one goal, two assists), FC Cincinnati outclassed Inter Miami 6-1 in the top game of the Eastern Conference of the MLS and took over from the weakened Rival representatives who had to do without their stars Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez (both at the Copa America) and Jordi Alba (yellow suspension).
In front of 25,513 spectators at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Miami had an answer to Kubo’s opening goal (10th): Julian Gressel set up 1-1 Serhiy Kryvtsov in the 21st minute. After that, the guests from Florida gradually lost their skins in Ohio.
Acosta scored for the home team in the 36th minute and assisted on Pavel Bucha’s goal two minutes later. Argentina’s Yamil Asad made it 4-1 in the fourth minute of stoppage time in the first half.
Valenzuela’s first goal
Again Kubo (57th) and youngster Gerardo Valenzuela (19th) with his first MLS goal (72nd) ensured the final result. In the end, Inter could almost be pitied after Sergio Busquets was sent off the field with the traffic lights card and the guests to survive in the rest of the game more than a number.
With 48 points, Cincinnati now leads the Eastern Conference table, just ahead of Miami (47), and their form (three wins in a row, 12 out of 14 wins) also speaks for coach Pat Noonan’s team. Inter had won four times in a row before.