Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami minutes are piling up, so how should Tata Martino handle him in U.S. Open Cup, MLS?

After winning Leagues Cup and qualifying for Concacaf Champions Cup, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami won’t get much time to rest before another critical game in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal against FC Cincinnati on Wednesday, Aug. 23 (which you can watch for free on the CBS Sports Golazo Network). The oldest competition in U.S. soccer, the Open Cup is still a heralded trophy but for Tata Martino, he has an unenviable situation of trying to balance his Inter Miami roster after getting through the Leagues Cup gauntlet. He’s insisted that Messi will continue to play until the player says he needs rest, and this is a huge opportunity for the team to reach their second final.

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While Messi’s Leagues Cup exceeded all expectations with him scoring 10 goals and assisting one more, he has also logged 564 minutes in just under a month. They are playing their third game in only eight days with another one around the corner against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, seeing the Herons travel from Nashville to Cincinnati and then to Harrison. Preparing for Open Cup play, this something that Martino addressed.

“We said that at some point he would have to rest because of the load of minutes played,” Martino said on Monday. “Clearly, Wednesday is not going to be that day. If he does not tell me he wants to rest, he will continue to play.”

Inter Miami have already secured a Champions Cup place but Open Cup isn’t something that they can punt by sitting Messi unless he physically can’t. His influence has been immense with the club winning five matches and drawing two since his arrival while also scoring 22 goals during that timeframe. Messi has scored in each Inter Miami game he’s played in. Each member of the squad has stepped up their game to lift Miami to new heights but with Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba logging most of those minutes, their talented youth players will be needed sooner than later as they pursue more glory.

“How do you sit Lionel Messi in a semifinal? He’s gonna play 120 minutes if that what this game goes to.”@FelipeCar joins Box to Box to talk about Lionel Messi’s heavy workload thus far and makes a prediction. 👀 pic.twitter.com/S6yzceOiMc

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 22, 2023
Attacking midfielder Facundo Farias made the squad for the first time in the Leagues Cup final against Nashville SC and if Messi doesn’t start a game here at some point, he’s the most likely replacement to drive Miami’s creativity. That first start could come quite soon too as if Messi will start in Open Cup play, it’s possible that he won’t start in his first MLS match versus the Red Bulls.

Farias is a talented creator when healthy scoring eight goals and assisting one last season in all competitions for Colon of Argentina but at only 20, it’s an excellent opportunity for him to grow into a role for club and possibly country under Messi. While this season Miami will go as far as Messi takes them, moving forward that could shift to going as far as Farias can help supplement when Messi needs rest.

Alongside him, Diego Gomez has already been playing minutes in midfield and Tomas Aviles could be next to debut in defense to help give Drake Callender a little less to do. That talented trio are almost as important for making MLS Cup as Messi will be in the long run which is why this is an excellent chance for Martino to begin integrating them.

How to watch CBS Sports Golazo Network and Paramount+
The Golazo Network is available via CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports app, Paramount+ and Pluto TV. Paramount+ subscribers can get an up-close look at Lionel Messi’s greatness with the Star Cam, which follows his every move and touch on the pitch. For a limited time, get 50% off an annual plan. That’s $2.50/month for the Essential Plan, or $5/month for the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan, for 12 months! Try it for free here.

Stream 2023 U.S. Open Cup semis on CBS Sports Golazo Network

FC Cincinnati will host Inter Miami in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinals on Wednesday on the CBS Golazo Network. Cincinnati are in first place in the MLS Eastern Conference, but have gotten mixed results during tournament play this summer and now enter Wednesday’s match following a 3-0 loss to the Columbus Crew. Meanwhile, Inter continue to ride a seven-game winning streak since Lionel Messi got to town, most recently winning the Leagues Cup final in a shootout.

Inter Miami are the -104 favorites (risk $104 to win $100) in the latest FC Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami odds, while Cincinnati are +210 underdogs. A draw returns +265 on the 90-minute money line. The over/under for total goals is 3.5. Kickoff from TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, is at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday. You can stream Cincinnati vs. Miami on the CBS Sports Golazo Network.

The CBS Sports Golazo Network is a first-of-its-kind free, 24-hour streaming network in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to global soccer coverage. CBS Sports Golazo Network is available to stream free on connected TV and mobile devices through the CBS Sports App and Pluto TV and on CBSSports.com, as well as on Paramount+. Paramount+ is also offering a unique “Star Cam” in this matchup, offering an exclusive look at star players throughout the match. Click here to stream.

How to watch Miami vs. Cincinnati
Inter Miami vs. FC Cincinnati date: Wednesday, August 23
Inter Miami vs. FC Cincinnati time: 7 p.m. ET
Inter Miami vs. FC Cincinnati live stream: CBS Sports Golazo Network
What you need to know about Cincinnati
The home team sits atop the MLS Eastern Conference standings and would like to get back to league play after an uneven run in tournaments. Last Sunday’s match against Columbus was the first time Cincinnati have been clean-sheeted since June, so they will try to bounce back.

Cincinnati haven’t been keeping their opponents off the scoresheet either. In fact, they haven’t recorded a clean sheet since a 3-0 win over Toronto FC on June 21. This could spell trouble against an Inter team that has scored in bunches. Stream the match here.

What you need to know about Miami
Before Messi joined Inter Miami this summer, the team was 5-3-14 through 22 MLS matches. They are now undefeated in seven straight matches since he joined the team, including last week’s League Cup final.

Messi has scored at least one goal in every match since joining Inter Miami in July. He is already Inter Miami’s third all-time leading goal scorer through just seven games and is showing no signs of slowing down. Stream the match here.

How to watch, live stream Miami vs. Cincinnati in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup
SportsLine soccer expert Brandt Sutton’s best bet for this matchup is Over 3.5 goals at +122 odds. “These two teams have combined to score four or more goals in four of their last six head-to-head meetings,” Sutton told SportsLine. “Backing Over 3.5 goals in a match isn’t something I do every day, but given the recent history between these two teams, I think we could see a high-scoring affair.”

Lionel Messi comes to CBS Sports Golazo Network in U.S. Open Cup semifinals as Inter Miami face FC Cincinnati

Hello! The soccer calendar is delivering a handful of high-stakes matchups to keep us busy midweek, from Champions League qualifiers to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals (which you can watch for free on the CBS Sports Golazo Network). The latter includes the latest installment of Messi Mania, in which Inter Miami play at FC Cincinnati for a spot in their second tournament final this season. I’m Pardeep Cattry with your Messi-themed updates, as well as other stories from the world of soccer.

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📺 Footy fix
All times U.S./Eastern

Wednesday, Aug. 23
🇪🇺 Conference League: Hibernian vs. Aston Villa, 12:45 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🇪🇺 Champions League: Molde vs. Galatasaray, 3 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🇺🇸 Open Cup: FC Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami, 7 p.m. ➡️ CBS Sports Golazo Network
🇺🇸 Open Cup: Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m. ➡️ CBS Sports Golazo Network
🇲🇽 Liga MX: America vs. Nexaca, 9 p.m. ➡️ TUDN
🇺🇸 MLS: LAFC vs. Colorado Rapids, 10:30 p.m. ➡️ Apple TV+

Thursday, Aug. 24
🇪🇺 Conference League: Fenerbahce vs. Twente, 1 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🇪🇺 Europa League: Ludogorets vs. Ajax, 2 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+

⚽ The Forward Line
Messi’s silverware pursuit continues

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CBS Sports Golazo Network
It may still be early days in Lionel Messi’s tenure at Inter Miami, but the star is in the midst of perhaps the club’s most important week ever. Miami lifted their first trophy on Saturday when they won the Leagues Cup and will have the chance to get closer to another piece of silverware tonight with a matchup against FC Cincinnati in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals.

Messi has started six of the seven games he’s played so far for Miami and scored 10 goals in the process, boosting his credentials as the world’s most undroppable player. The match in Cincinnati is only Miami’s second of three games this week, though, with Messi’s MLS debut at the New York Red Bulls looming. As Chuck Booth writes, it forces the question: How many minutes are too many minutes for the 36-year-old Messi?

Booth: “He has also logged 564 minutes in just under a month. They are playing their third game in only eight days with another one around the corner against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, seeing the Herons travel from Nashville to Cincinnati and then to Harrison. … ‘We said that at some point he would have to rest because of the load of minutes played,’ [Miami head coach Tata] Martino said on Monday. ‘Clearly, Wednesday is not going to be that day. If he does not tell me he wants to rest, he will continue to play.'”
For more on managing Messi’s minutes, Felipe Cardenas also stopped by Box to Box to talk about when Messi could possibly take a break.

As Martino kicks the rotation can down the road, the expectation will once again be on Messi to lead Miami to another victory. Cincinnati, meanwhile, will have the chance to find out if a tired Messi packs the same punch as a well-rested one. The winner awaits the winner of the Houston Dynamo’s encounter with Real Salt Lake, which takes place later tonight.

Paramount+ will also have extra coverage of Miami’s trip to Cincinnati with a Star Cam that will follow Messi’s movement all night.

Sponsored by Paramount+
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🔗 Midfield Link Play
Messi’s Miami goals, ranked

True to form, Messi has scored a handful of highlight-reel worthy goals during his early days in Miami. Booth ranked his 10 strikes so far, with some of his best strikes coming on major occasions. Coming in at number two was his most recent goal, which came from distance against Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup final.

It was hard to outshine Messi’s first goal for Miami in his debut, which ranks as his best goal so far. As Booth noted, the goal from a free kick was more than just a stunning strike; it marked a very memorable moment that is hard to top.

Booth: “For a goal to truly be number one not only does it need to be a beautiful goal but it also needs to be a goal scored where the stakes were high. It doesn’t become much more of a pressure cooker to win a game for your team in your debut but Messi’s arrival has felt like a movie and when the opening scene is this good, it’ll be pretty hard to top.”
Here are some more headlines from around the soccer world.

🔗 Spain federation president Luis Rubiales is facing calls to resign after he forcibly kissed Jennifer Hermoso during the trophy ceremony at the Women’s World Cup.
🔗 James Benge provides the latest on the Folarin Balogun transfer saga, in which Monaco are the leading candidate to sign the U.S. men’s national team forward.
🔗 Christian Pulisic kicked off his AC Milan stint with a goal on his debut.
🔗 Sandra Herrera ranked the top 10 moments from the Women’s World Cup.
🔗 Benge also writes about Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah after his strong performance against Crystal Palace on Monday.
🔗 Pep Guardiola will miss the next two games for Manchester City after undergoing emergency back surgery.
🔗 Felipe Cardenas stops by Morning Footy to preview the Open Cup semifinal between Cincinnai and Miami, while the rest of the team chats Houston vs. RSL.
🔗 The Morning Footy team look back at Messi’s storied career and provide their predictions for FC Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami.
🔗 Attacking Third covers the rapid growth of women’s soccer in Spain over the last several years.
🔗 The Attacking Third team also praised Spain’s midfield as essential to the team’s World Cup victory.
🔗 Morning Footy recaps Lindsey Horan’s criticism of the U.S. women’s national team coaching staff’s decisions at the World Cup.
🔗 Box to Box talks Christian Pulisic’s hot start in Serie A.
🔗 The Attacking Third team picks their standout player of the World Cup and their favorite moments of the tournament.
🔗 Christian Unkel reviews the penalty decision during the World Cup final with Attacking Third.
🔗 Morning Footy also covers Sergino Dest’s move to PSV and his search for playing time.
🔗 Morning Footy also looks at Jude Bellingham’s first two games with Real Madrid.
🔗 Houston head coach Ben Olsen sits down for a chat on Box to Box.
🔗 In Soccer We Trust previews the U.S. Open Cup semifinals.

💰 The Back Line
💵 Best bets

Champions League: Molde vs. Galatasaray, Wednesday, 3 p.m.
💰 THE PICK: Only one team to score (+110) — The Turkish side are the oddsmakers’ favorites to advance, so expect this to be a one-sided affair where only Galatasaray gets on the scoresheet and qualify for the Champions League group stage.
U.S. Open Cup: FC Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
💰 THE PICK: Three goals scored in the game (+295) — Inter Miami games are never dull when Messi’s on the field. While the star is expected to score yet again on Wednesday, Cincinnati might have their chances against a team that played many of their starters just a few days earlier.

Stream 2023 U.S. Open Cup on CBS Sports Golazo Network

Familiar foes Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake will square off in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup semifinals on Wednesday on the CBS Golazo Network. The Dynamo are hosting Wednesday’s match and coming off of a 5-0 home win against the Portland Timbers. Meanwhile, RSL have been on a two-week hiatus after falling 5-0 to LAFC on the road on Aug. 8.

Houston are the +109 favorites (risk $100 to win $104) in the latest Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake odds, while RSL are +210 underdogs. A draw returns +225 on the 90-minute money line. The over/under for total goals is 2.5. Kickoff from Shell Energy Stadium in Houston is at 9:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday. You can stream Houston vs. Salt Lake City on the CBS Sports Golazo Network.

The CBS Sports Golazo Network is a first-of-its-kind free, 24-hour streaming network in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to global soccer coverage. CBS Sports Golazo Network is available to stream free on connected TV and mobile devices through the CBS Sports App and Pluto TV and on CBSSports.com, as well as on Paramount+. Click here to stream.

How to watch Salt Lake vs. Houston
Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake date: Wednesday, August 23
Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake live stream: CBS Sports Golazo Network
What you need to know about Houston
The Dynamo will be playing on shorter rest than Salt Lake, who were booted from the Leagues Cup two weeks ago. They should be full of confidence, however, after their big home win against the Timbers which saw five different players find the back of the net.

Houston also benefit greatly from playing in front of their home crowd. They have eight wins, two draws and two losses through 12 games at Shell Energy Stadium this season. Stream the match here.

What you need to know about Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake were unbeaten in nine straight MLS matches, which is what helped them move up to third in the league table. They had also been a strong road team prior to being clean-sheeted by LAFC two weeks ago.

RSL have the advantage of being well-rested for Wednesday’s match since they haven’t played since Aug. 8. They also have a leg-up since they are unbeaten in their last 11 matches against Houston. Stream the match here.

How to watch, live stream Houston vs. Salt Lake in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup
SportsLine soccer expert Martin Green’s best bet for this matchup is a halftime draw at +115 odds. Five of the last seven matches between these teams have ended in a draw and there have been three consecutive 0-0 finishes at Shell Energy Stadium. “Fourteen of Houston’s 24 games this season have been all-square at the break, so the odds on a draw at half-time in this game also look attractive.” See more analysis here.

Inter Miami vs. FC Cincinnati U.S. Open Cup, how to watch online, odds, time

After winning their first final in club history by defeating Nashville SC in Leagues Cup, Inter Miami can book their place in another final Wednesday when they face FC Cincinnati in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals on CBS Sports Golazo Network. While Cincinnati have been the best team in Major League Soccer, leading the Supporters’ Shield race, things have changed quickly since the arrival of one Lionel Messi in America. Along with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, he has shifted Inter Miami into being contenders for every honor in the league, which will make this quite the match at TQL Stadium.

Despite Miami’s dominance, the number of games on their legs could give Cincinnati an advantage if they can strike quickly. Brandon Vazquez and Luciano Acosta are among the best attackers in the league and could give Inter Miami’s defense some serious trouble. On Saturday it took a 10-9 shootout for Messi and company to lift the Leagues Cup trophy, and they faced a semifinal before that that was more difficult than it seemed. Sure they won 4-1 over Philadelphia, but the Union held the team to five total shots.

It’s true that Messi has steamrolled the Major League soccer teams he’s played against, but on the whole the better MLS sides have been able to hang in there against Miami, and it’s taken some inspired work by keeper Drake Callendar (the man who also scored the Leagues Cup winning penalty) to keep Miami from leaking goals at the other end. The question is whether Cincinnati can take advantage.