US Open Cup: FC Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami Preview, Odds, Predictions, Picks

FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami battle for the chance to appear in the finals of the US Open Cup. Cinci is the host, but they have a massive challenge ahead, with Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami coming to TQL Stadium in Ohio. The guests are on rampage, having won all the games in the Leagues Cup before lifting the trophy of this competition. Messi’s start in the new club was a blast, and the worst team in the league suddenly became the best. It is up to Cinci to try to slow the Herons down and head to the finals. 

Preview

FC Cincinnati (+180) finished its participation in the Leagues Cup in the Round of 16, losing to Nashville on penalties. The pause apparently negatively impacted Pat Noonan’s crew, who would lose in its first MLS appearance after a one-month pause. 

Columbus was ruthless against the Garys, breaking them into pieces early on and posting a 3-0 victory. Everything was already over in the first 45 minutes, and Cinci had no time to return.

Luciano Acosta is the best player on the team, with 12 goals and six assists. Dominique Badji and Alvaro Barreal are helping the prolific striker, and overall, Cinci is an offensive-minded bunch, with their games often producing three or more goals, with both teams netting. Just one in the past ten had ended under 2.5 hits. 

Inter Miami (+155) now has Messi, and everything is easier. Though, we need to say that even though Messi is the best player on the team by far, it is Sergio Busquets who is running the show in the midfield and setting up Messi with chances to score. 

The Herons have seven victories in a row, and since Barca’s former players debuted, they are unstoppable. In all but one of these events, Inter scored at least twice, performing unbelievably upfront. But as said, it is easy when you have Messi and Busquets. 

The team takes the ball and relentlessly pushes it toward the Argentinian and Martinez, who click in immediately, forming a nasty duo. 

Latest News

Yerson Mosquera, Stiven Jimenez, and Badji are for this event.

There are plenty of injuries in Inter, but none of the players who are out has a significant role on the team. Robinson, Sailor, Stefanelli, Negri, Jean, Mora, and Gregore won’t play. 

Head to Head Games

FC won the first meeting of the year at TQL Stadium, 1-0. Mosquera was the scorer of that single goal in the fifth minute of the first-half stoppage time.

Predictions

Inter comes to play and to win. They won’t change their tactics, which means that the Herons are going to attack and press Cinci right from the start. The hosts will miss Mosquera and Badji, and even with them, Cinci wouldn’t be the favorite in our eyes. We are going with Inter’s victory here, even though the odds are pretty high, and there might be a pick with a lower risk. We need to try this, because of the profits/risk ratio which seems very valuable for us at the moment. 

Pick: Inter Miami wins +155