2023 U.S. Open Cup final

Inter Miami CF joined MLS as an expansion team in 2020 and played in their first U.S. Open Cup in 2022, where they were eliminated in the round of 16 by in-state rivals Orlando City SC, who won a penalty shootout.[5] They entered the third round of the 2023 U.S. Open Cup along with the lower tranche of MLS teams and were drawn against Miami FC, a USLC team from the same area.[6] The match was played at Miami FC's home venue, FIU Stadium, and ended in a penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw; Inter Miami CF won the shootout 5–3 amid a six-match losing streak in league play.[7]

The team advanced to the round of 32 and hosted the Charleston Battery of USLC, who they defeated 1–0 through an own goal.[8] Inter Miami CF then traveled to play Nashville SC, who they lost to six days before their round of 16 fixture; Miami won 2–1 and ended Nashville's eight-match unbeaten streak after the match was disrupted for a half-hour due to a lightning delay. Striker Nicolás Stefanelli entered the match as a second-half substitute and scored the winning goal in the 73rd minute, restoring a lead that the team had gained in the 57th minute through Franco Negri.[9]

Stefanelli then scored the lone goal in Inter Miami CF's 1–0 quarterfinal victory in June against Birmingham Legion FC, a USLC team that hosted the fixture and set a soccer attendance record for Alabama.[10] Miami made major changes to their squad in the two months between rounds by hiring manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino and signing international stars Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets—all former FC Barcelona players.[11][12] Four days after their victory in the Leagues Cup final, Inter Miami CF traveled to play FC Cincinnati in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals. Cincinnati took a 2–0 lead early in the second half, but Messi's two assists to Leonardo Campana were converted—the latter in stoppage time—to force extra time.[13] Josef Martínez's strike gave Miami a 3–2 lead until Yuya Kubo equalized for Cincinnati as the match ended in a 3–3 draw. In the fifth round of the penalty shootout, Nick Hagglund's shot was saved by Drake Callender and rookie Benjamin Cremaschi converted his to give Inter Miami CF a berth in the U.S. Open Cup final.[14]

The Dynamo won the 2018 edition of the U.S. Open Cup against the Philadelphia Union and had yet to return to a final; the team had also been completely rebuilt under new head coach Ben Olsen.[15] Houston entered the 2023 edition in the third round and faced USLC's Tampa Bay Rowdies on the road in Florida. The Dynamo won 1–0 through a goal from teenage striker Brooklyn Raines before half-time and several saves by goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell to preserve a shutout.[16]

Houston advanced to the round of 32 and hosted Sporting Kansas City, who they defeated 1–0 with a volleyed goal from outside the penalty area by Thorleifur Úlfarsson in the 11th minute; Chase Gasper was sent off with a red card in the 35th minute, but the team held on for a shutout.[17] The Dynamo hosted their round of 16 match against Minnesota United FC and continued their shutout streak in Open Cup play with a 4–0 victory. Corey Baird earned a hat-trick, including a penalty kick in the first half, and was joined by substitute Ibrahim Aliyu's goal in the second half for Houston.[18]

The Dynamo won 4–1 on the road to Chicago Fire FC in the quarterfinals with a penalty converted by Amine Bassi, two goals by Ibrahim Aliyu, and a finish by Nelson Quiñónes on a cross by Héctor Herrera in the 74th minute.[19] The team returned home to Houston's Shell Energy Stadium for the semifinal match against Real Salt Lake. Herrera scored in the first half's stoppage time to give the Dynamo a lead that was erased by Anderson Julio's header; the match remained tied at 1–1 at the end of regulation time. During extra time, Houston retook the lead through a shot by Adalberto Carrasquilla in the 105th minute, which was followed by a brawl between players after Brayan Vera was sent off. Luis Caicedo scored the final goal of the night for the Dynamo in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give the team a 3–1 win.[20] With their appearance in the final, Houston also qualified for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, as Inter Miami CF had already qualified through their Leagues Cup title.[21]

For Inter Miami CF, star midfielder Lionel Messi and left back Jordi Alba were both injured and unavailable for the match.[27]

Houston had the majority of possession in the first half and created several attacking chances that forced early saves out of Drake Callender. The away side took the lead in the 24th minute through a strike by Griffin Dorsey, which was followed by a penalty call in their favor in the 33rd minute for a foul by DeAndre Yedlin. Amine Bassi converted the penalty for the Dynamo in the 33rd minute to give the team a 2–0 lead at half-time. Miami made several adjustments at half-time, including the addition of Josef Martínez, but failed to convert most of their chances. Houston scored an apparent third goal in the 73rd minute that was overturned by the video assistant referee for an offside. Martínez scored a consolation goal in stoppage time as the Dynamo won 2–1 to clinch their second U.S. Open Cup title.[1]