Match Report: Inter Miami 2-3 Atlanta United

Saturday evening saw the final game of the best of three match up between Inter Miami and Atlanta United, with the winner progressing to the next round of the MLS Cup play-offs. Being at home Inter Miami came into this game as favourites, however were left disappointed that Sergio Busquets could only make the bench, after he had some illness problems last week. Atlanta made just the one change from last week, with Ajani Fortune making way for Tristan Muyumba.

The game got off to a lively start, as on the 17th minute mark Paraguyan Matías Rojas tapped in the rebound from close range, after veteran goalkeeper Brad Guzan made a save from Lionel Messi. The lead was very short lived, as Atlanta United were 1-2 up just four minutes later. Both goals coming from 31-year-old uncapped Senegalese man Jamal Thiaré.

The first goal being a powerful strike at the near post just inside the box, and the second being a lovely counter attack as Russian and former Atalanta Bergamo Calcio man Aleksei Miranchuk squared for the Senegalese to tap home.

The Herons thought they had pulled it back level just a few minutes later, as Diego Gómez raced through and calmly finished under Guzan, but he was judged to be offside. 1-2 at half time to the visitors.

Brad Guzan was up to his old tricks in the second half, as he made some incredible saves to make sure the visitors held their lead. None more so than Jordi Alba’s header from close range on 52 minutes that looked destined for goal but Guzan managed to tip it round the post and out for a corner. Miami’s pressure would eventually pay off, as Marcelo Weigandt’s cross on 65 minutes was met by the unlikely head of Lionel Messi, getting his first goal of the MLS play-offs

. It was the 850th goal of the Argentine’s career, and you can imagine he won’t want to stop there. From that point on you’d think Miami would go onto win this game, having all the momentum you’d think Atlanta would start to panic. That however would be wrong, as on 76 minutes after a counter attack that looked to be dealt with by Jordi Alba, Atlanta recycled the ball and Pedro Amador whipped in a lovely ball to the back post where Polish international Bartosz Slisz climbed highest out of nowhere.

Inter Miami were furious as Tomás Avilés went down with an injury during the action, and Inter Miami players looked to have stopped, but that’s where the saying ‘play to the whistle’ comes in, and Atlanta United did just that and got their reward.

The hosts pushed for an equaliser, but Brad Guzan was on fire yet again and Atlanta United held on to a shock win. The team that finished 9th in the Eastern Conference have beaten the team that won the league, and you have to say it was fully deserved across the three games.

Frustrating for Miami, as they couldn’t get past the first round, and now will have to wait until February for their season to start again. Atlanta however will now have all the confidence in the world to go all the way, and teams should be weary of them.

They will now meet Orlando City in two weeks time on the 24th of November, after the international break. Inter Miami will have some self reflection to do, as they will be majorly disappointed and would have expected to go all the way.

Inter Miami: Callendar, Weigandt, Avilés (78), Martínez, Alba, Rojas (83), Redondo, Cremaschi (60), Messi (c), Suárez, Gómez

Subs: Campana (60), Busquets (78), Taylor (83), dos Santos, Sailor, Negri, Allen, Sunderland, Gressel

Atlanta United: Guzan (c), Hernández, Williams (78), Abram, Lobjanidze, Slisz, McCarty (60), Muyumba (59), Amador, Thiaré (POTM) (78), Miranchuk (90+1)

Subs: Gregersen (59), Fortune (60), Silva (78), Rios (78), Cobb (90+1), Cohen, Edwards, Wolff, Brennan