Match Report: Atlanta United 2-1 Inter Miami

Saturday night served up the second of the best-of-three series between Atlanta United and Inter Miami, which will see the winner progress to the one-legged quarter-final. The Herons came into this game with 1-0 lead in the series, by winning 2-1 in Fort Lauderdale last Friday, and if they were to win last night there would be no need for a third match up, as it would finish 2-0 within the best-of-three games. The Herons were missing star defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets, who was out with illness, leaving the team with less experience and composure in the centre of the pitch, which they really could have done with on what would prove to be a difficult night for Inter Miami.

However it looked like they would be okay without him, as on the fortieth minute mark, after not really too much happening within the first half, Inter Miami capitalised on an absolutely shocking error from veteran goalkeeper Brad Guzan, as he went to drop kick the ball up field he slipped on his backside and the ball fell straight in the path of Federico Redondo, he calmly squared it to his Paraguyan team mate David Martínez, who then delicately chipped over the defence and into the empty net. 0-1 to the visitors going into the break.

Atlanta United had to come out all guns blazing in the second half if they wanted to save themselves from a 2-0 defeat in the series, and on fifty-eight minutes they pulled it back, as Portuguese left-wing-back Pedro Amador whipped in an exquisite cross from the left hand side for Irishman Derrick Williams to score a diving header into the bottom corner, after a well worked set-piece. 

As the game was approaching the final few minutes, it looked as if the game was heading to a penalty shoot-out, as there is no extra time, meaning if Atlanta won on spot kicks, ot would be 1-1 and all to play for next week, and if the Herons won it would mean they would advance to the quarter-finals as 2-0 winners. However there was huge action at both ends of the pitch, as substistute Matías Rojas flicked the ball over the Atlanta defence for Messi who headed past the on-rushing Guzan, but he was judged to be clearly offside, and then a couple of minutes later down the other end, Atlanta’s own super sub Xande Silva absolutely leathered a shot into the top corner of the net, giving the hosts the win and making it 1-1 in the series.

So next week is all to play for back in South Beach, as this will be the last of the best-of-three series match up, and whoever wins will advance to the quarter-finals. Inter Miami will hope to have Sergio Busquets back on the pitch, as it was only an illness keeping him out of last night’s action rather than an injury. The Herons will be hoping that home advantage and playing in front of their fans will help them progress through, as they only lost two of their games at Chase Stadium. They won’t want to be left disappointed by losing to the side that finished 9th place in the Eastern Conference. The game will be played on Saturday 9th November, with an 8PM kick-off local time.