A second-half goal from Lionel Messi was the only real highlight for Inter Miami as they lost 1-3 to Atlanta United, ending their 10-match winning streak in the Major League Soccer (MLS).
This was also Atlanta’s first win in almost two months
Saba Lobjanidze scored a brace. once in each half, with Messi providing a way out for Inter Miami after pulling a goal back for the hosts. Jamal Thiaré crushed their hopes when he put the game to bed with a goal in the 73rd minute as Atlanta United dealt the league leaders a painful blow in front of their fans.
Atlanta United’s last victory in the MLS was against Chicago, beating them 3-0 on March 31 so it was expected that they came into this clash as second-favorites against the league leaders. But the case was different on Wednesday, with Lobjanidze scoring late in the first half to put his side on top and adding the second in the 59th minute.
After Messi’s goal, Atlanta United switched to a defensive formation to preserve their lead and got the much-deserved winner in the 73rd minute.
“We were missing a gear,” Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said. “I’d say it was a night where the team went backwards from other matches.”
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi just said enough and pulled a goal like the one he did against Mexico at the World Cup.pic.twitter.com/tiqbD2fmAz
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) May 30, 2024
Martino had many reasons to be frustrated about the result. For one, his team had the better possession and completed more passes than their opponents but were not as clinical as their opponents when it mattered with Atlanta boasting more shots and shots on target than their hosts.
The Inter Miami coach would now focus on how to keep his team at the top as he is set to lose his star man, Lionel Messi (and Luis Suarez) to their respective national teams ahead of the 2024 Copa America tournament
