Inter Miami have suffered a shock exit from the MLS Cup play-offs, with Lionel Messi’s goal not enough to stop a 3-2 loss at home to Atlanta United in Game 3 of the series at the Chase Stadium on Saturday night.
The thrilling encounter was poised to be keenly contested as both sides came into the game with a win apiece in the best-of-3 series and the opening 20 minutes delivered three goals, all scored over the span of just five minutes.
Atlanta’s Jamal Thiare saw a close-range effort come off the post in the 14th minute, while Matias Rojas gave Miami a 17th-minute lead after he latched on to the loose ball from Atlanta’s veteran goalkeeper, Brad Guzan, saving a goal-bound effort from Messi.
It did not take long for Atlanta to strike, though, with Jamal Thiare scoring two goals in two minutes to get the visitors – who finished 34 points behind Miami in the regular season – ahead by the 21st minute of the MLS Cup Round One clash.
Miami thought they had drawn level in the 24th minute when midfielder Diego Gomez beat Atlanta defender Ronald Hernandez and slipped the ball past Guzan, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Messi’s header after the hour mark got Miami back on level terms but Atlanta midfielder Bartosz Slisz headed in the game-winner 10 minutes later to seal a major upset over Inter Miami and set up a meeting in the semifinal stage against Orlando City SC.