Lionel Messi was determined to win the MLS Cup, but Inter Miami was knocked out in the very first round of the playoffs.
At times, Messi stood with his hands on his hips, gazing at the sky, lost in thought. His expressions of frustration were clear throughout the match. After the final whistle, he covered his face with his hands. The crowd, once a sea of pink, seemed to share the same sadness. Messi and Inter Miami’s dream of winning the MLS Cup ended in the first round.
The shock defeat came courtesy of Atlanta United. In the third match of the ‘Best of Three’ playoff series, they defeated Miami 3-2 on Sunday morning (Bangladesh time).
Messi scored a goal with a header, but the real heroes for Atlanta were Jamal Chíah and Bartosz Ślísz. Chíah scored two first-half goals for Atlanta, while Ślísz netted the decisive goal after the score was tied 2-2.
Before the playoff, both teams had one win each from the first two matches. However, Miami was the clear favorite in the third match, having set a record for the most points in the regular season and winning the Supporters Shield. They were in great form and close to winning the series after their second victory. In the second match, they were ahead until the dying moments, but Atlanta made a stunning comeback, scoring two goals in four minutes. In the third match at home, a Miami victory seemed inevitable, but Atlanta upset the odds again.
While Miami had 34 more points than Atlanta in the regular season, Atlanta barely made it to the playoffs, finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference. In the previous two matches, they came close to being eliminated, but their resilience saw them fight back and claim the third match in an unexpected win.
The match started with Matías Rohas giving Miami the lead in the 17th minute. After Messi’s shot was saved by Atlanta’s goalkeeper Brad Guzan, Rohas pounced on the rebound and scored. Atlanta responded swiftly, with Chíah scoring two quick goals in the 19th and 21st minutes to put Miami on the back foot.
In the 65th minute, Messi’s header brought Miami back into the game, but in the 75th minute, Ślísz scored with a header to give Atlanta the lead. Miami had two free-kick chances in the dying moments, but Messi couldn’t convert either.
There was some controversy surrounding the winning goal. Miami’s Argentine defender Tomás Áviles had been on the ground in the penalty box for a while, and his teammates were calling for play to stop. However, Atlanta continued their attack, and the referee did not halt the game.
Despite Áviles being down, several Miami players were inside the box but failed to defend. Throughout the match, the team paid the price for defensive lapses.
Credit must also go to Atlanta’s goalkeeper, Guzan, who made several crucial saves, proving to be a hero for his team, as he had been in the previous two matches.
After winning the Supporters Shield, Messi had expressed his desire to win the MLS Cup, but that dream remained elusive. Messi’s salary alone is higher than the combined salary of the entire Atlanta squad. Miami spent a record $41.7 million this season, but the reality of football was evident once again.
Atlanta now moves on to the Conference Semifinals, while Miami will play in the Club World Cup next year. Messi has another year on his contract with the club, so he will get another shot at the MLS Cup. Meanwhile, Luis Suárez’s contract ends this season, though he has indicated talks for a new deal with the club.
