In a surprising outcome, Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, was eliminated in the first round of the MLS playoffs, losing 3-2 to Atlanta United at home. Despite an early goal from Matias Rojas, Atlanta quickly took control with two goals from Jamal Thiaré. Messi later scored, but Atlanta responded to secure their lead. Coach Gerardo Martino reflected on the team’s progress, while concerns about the playoff format were raised by full-back Jordi Alba. Atlanta advances to face Orlando in the semifinals.
Inter Miami’s Shocking Exit from MLS Playoffs
In a stunning turn of events, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami faced an unexpected defeat in the first round of the MLS playoffs, falling 3-2 at home to Atlanta United. The 37-year-old Argentine superstar’s team was heavily favored, having concluded the regular season with the best record in North America, racking up an impressive number of points. In stark contrast, Atlanta barely secured their playoff position, finishing 9th in the Eastern Conference.
Game Highlights and Key Moments
The match kicked off with Inter Miami taking an early lead in the 17th minute, courtesy of Matias Rojas, who capitalized on a shot from Messi that was deflected by the Atlanta goalkeeper. However, the momentum quickly shifted as Jamal Thiaré of Atlanta scored two rapid goals in the 19th and 21st minutes, putting the Georgia team ahead. Although Miami attempted to equalize shortly after, Diego Gomez found himself offside, denying the Floridians the chance to level the playing field.
It wasn’t until the 65th minute that Messi managed to bring Miami back into contention with a powerful header. Unfortunately, Atlanta responded swiftly, regaining the lead in the 76th minute with another header, this time from midfielder Bartosz Slisz. As Miami pushed forward in hopes of a comeback, they ultimately fell short.
Without the influence of injured Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets, Messi and his strike partner Luis Suarez failed to deliver their usual performance. As the final whistle blew, disappointment hung over the stadium, where fans had hoped to witness Inter advance to their first MLS Cup. Despite dominating possession and outshooting their opponents nearly threefold, the outcome left Messi and his teammates with a sense of regret.
Coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino acknowledged the need for reflection after this disappointing exit, noting the progress the team has made since last season’s struggles. “If you consider where we stood last November, there has been notable advancement for the club, not just the team. However, given our aspirations for this playoff, we have certainly fallen short. The players are understandably upset, as we had high ambitions that we could not realize,” he remarked.
Full-back Jordi Alba voiced concerns regarding the playoff format, which pits the top seven teams from each conference against each other, while the eighth and ninth place teams vie for a playoff spot. “This format seems somewhat unfair. While it has been in place for years, I believe the champions of each conference should face off against one another,” he expressed. Meanwhile, Atlanta progresses to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they will meet Orlando, while the other semifinal features a New York derby between the Red Bulls and New York City FC.