Atlanta United vs Inter Miami: Messi's Impact and Playoff Stakes in Exciting MLS Show

Atlanta United delivered a dramatic 2-1 win over Inter Miami in the MLS playoff series at the Mercedes Benz Stadium, levelling the matchup at 1-1. Xande Silva emerged as the hero, scoring a 94th-minute strike just after Lionel Messi’s goal was disallowed for offside. Earlier, Derrick Williams had equalized following a Miami goal caused by a howler from Atlanta’s goalkeeper and captain, Brad Guzan. The deciding Game 3 will take place next Saturday in South Florida, where both teams will battle for a spot in the conference semifinals.  

Atlanta United defeated CF Montreal on penalties in the wild card round to book a meeting with Inter Miami in the MLS Cup Round One Playoffs. Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba were on the scoresheet as Inter Miami took a 1-0 lead in the playoff series with a 2-1 win at the Chase Stadium a week ago in what was the club’s first-ever postseason victory. Lobjanidze got the only consolation goal for the Five Stripes.  

Martino’s Miami looks very strong on paper, with Alba featuring as a wing-back and Messi and Suarez starting up front alongside Paraguayan Gomez. However, another former Barcelona star, Sergio Busquets, is missing from the matchday squad because of illness. But Martino shifts to a 3-4-3 formation, with Allen coming into the back three to feature alongside Martinez and Aviles, in their only change from the last match. Callender was between the sticks for the visitors.  

On the other hand, his opposite number interim coach Rob Valentino, started Lobjanidze, Atlanta’s leading scorer with ten goals this season, in their attack. Rios, who accounted for seven goals, is among the substitutes for the Five Stripes. Valentino made two alterations to the side that Miami beat last time out, with both changes coming in the defence. Gregersen drops to the bench while Brooks Lennon misses out entirely with a long-term injury as Abram and Hernandez replace them in the starting line-up. 

After an evenly poised start, Miami was the first to signal their intent. Messi broke down the middle before playing Suarez inside the box, and the Uruguayan swiftly returned the Favour. Messi’s shot from close range ended up on the wrong side of the goal. Two minutes later, Atlanta United imposed themselves into the game, and in a flurry of attacks, Thiare almost got in behind the Miami defence on a counter, but Allen's brilliant interception denied the Atlanta forward a shot at Callender's goal. In the 25th minute, Atlanta piled more pressure on Martino's side as Amador sent a telegraphed left-footed cross into the box, which was headed just wide of the goal by Williams. It came seconds after Miranchuk also had a goalward header blocked by the stubborn Miami defence.

Atlanta United are unbeaten in their last five home matches against Inter Miami (W4 D1). However, Miami’s 2-2 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 18 ended a four-match home winning streak for the Five Stripes. Atlanta United were hell-bent on maintaining their illustrious home record against the Herons.  

After some crisp exchange of passes on the edge of the box, Atlanta was firmly on the front foot, and Miranchuk let fly from outside the box. The midfielder's strike took a slight deflection off Redondo and needed to be tipped over the goal by an acrobatic effort from Callender in the 27th minute. Across the Leagues Cup, US Open Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup and MLS Cup Playoffs, Messi has appeared in 10 knockout round matches for Miami and contributed to at least one goal in all of them (9 goals, 5 assists), including the assist for the winner against Atlanta last time out. But ironically, he has never scored against Atlanta United in several tries.  

At the start of the game, Atlanta United failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine games. Meanwhile, Miami is unbeaten in their previous ten. In the 40th minute, Miami got the opening goal under unusual circumstances. Inter Miami played a ball into the box, which Guzan comfortably collected. The Atlanta goalkeeper, however, slipped before kicking the ball back into play, and Redondo sneaked behind him, pounced and passed it for Martinez to chip the ball into an open goal for a 1-0 advantage.  

After that calamitas goal, the half trickled to a close in the visitors' favour. The Herons’ only-ever win at Atlanta was a 2-1 victory in September 2020, and indeed, that late first-half goal gave them the impetus to add another on enemy territory. During the halftime break, one would expect the coach to remind the players to stay compact and that Atlanta has not won a game after they conceded first in their last seven MLS games. 

The second half started like a house on fire, with both teams trading punches pound for pound like a Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield match. Inter Miami was close to extending their lead when wing-back Alba popped up inside the Atlanta box and played in a cross, which was deflected off Hernandez, and Guzan needed to make a crucial save at his near post in the 48th minute. Seven minutes later, Inter Miami huffed and puffed like the big bad wolf but the Five Stripes defence stood up like the rock of Gibraltar. Messi released Alba with a defence-splitting pass into the box. The wing-back played the cross first-time aimed at an unmarked Suarez, who stretched but failed to make any connection in front of the goal. 

Atlanta United wrestled possession from Inter Miami, making them pay for their rued chances. In the 58th minute, Williams fired home a bullet header after meeting the end of a brilliant left-footed cross from Amador into the goal. Amador has seven assists for Atlanta in MLS this season since debuting for the club in August. Only Alba (9) and Riqui Puig (7) had more assists than Amador during that time.  

The pendulum swung quickly in Atlanta United’s favour, and they went very close after their leading tallis man Lobjanidze's cross into the box was spilled by Inter Miami goalkeeper Callender and Fortune latched onto it and rounded the custodian but fired it wide under pressure. After a close scare in the 62nd minute, the Herons went close with two back-to-back chances. Again, Messi came up with a cross into the box, which was knocked down to Suarez by Gomez. The former Uruguay striker struck it with fury, but Guzan made a brilliant save to deny him. A minute later, the Argentine magician Messi's corner into the box was met by a defensive header by Thiare, who glanced it onto the crossbar. The ball went out for a corner on the other side, which was taken quickly by Suarez. Messi met his cross for the first time volley, but he could only manage to hit the side netting.  

Atlanta was forced onto the backfoot, but Lobjanidze drove forward on the break before winning a corner. The resultant corner kick was taken by former Bologna man Miranchuk. His corner kick landed on Lobjanidze, who struck it on the turn in front of the goal. Inter Miami goalkeeper Callender got a slight touch on the strike and palms it onto the crossbar with just two minutes before full time. Tied at 1-1 and heading into the dreadful penalty kicks, the Atlanta supporters went silent in time added on as Messi got behind the backline and cheekily dinked the ball over Guzan. But the Inter Miami attacker was almost a yard offside, much to the relief of the home supporters.  

Second-half substitute Silva etched his name in Atlanta United’s folklore as he emerged as Atlanta's hero! Atlanta custodian Guzan heaves a ball forward, and Miranchuk won the ball before supplying substitute Silva, who took a touch and fired home with venom from the edge of the box to make it 2-1. Miranchuk, Atlanta's big-money signing, delivered again as he created the winning goal in a thrilling playoff tie. Silva saw a yellow card for taking his shirt off during the wild celebrations that ensured after the goal, but the Atlanta player did not care. It was pandemonium after the final whistle as jubilant fans danced up a storm in the stands. 

The 2-1 win over Inter Miami will take this MLS Cup Playoffs tie to a deciding third match in Florida next weekend. The 94th-minute goal from substitute Silva secured the famous win for Valentino's side after they had come under the cosh in the final stages of game two.