Sports
Atlanta Eliminate Messi’s Inter Miami From MLS Cup
Lionel Messi found the net, but Inter Miami faced a surprising first-round exit from the MLS Cup playoffs.
Atlanta United claimed a 3-2 victory in the decisive third game of the best-of-three series held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after each team had taken one win in the previous matches.
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Despite finishing the regular season with a record 74 points from 34 games and securing the Eastern Conference’s Supporters’ Shield, Miami’s playoff hopes were dashed.
Miami initially took the lead at DRV PNK Stadium when Matias Rojas tapped in a rebound after former Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan saved Messi’s initial shot.
Atlanta responded with two rapid goals from Jamal Thiare, putting them ahead. Though Messi equalized with a well-placed header, Bartosz Slisz scored the decisive goal while Miami players appealed for a stoppage with defender Tomas Aviles injured on the pitch.
In other news, Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, was recently announced as one of 32 teams participating in next year’s expanded FIFA Club World Cup.
“They are now officially one of the 32 best clubs in the world, already after a few years since their existence,” said Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
“And now they can start writing their story also on the global stage.”
In December, Miami signed Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, reuniting him with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.
Atlanta narrowly made the playoffs by finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference, then edged past Montreal in a penalty shootout in the wildcard round to set up their clash with Miami.
In the upcoming semi-finals, Atlanta will face Orlando City, while New York City will take on the New York Red Bulls. These semi-final matches are single-game eliminations rather than a best-of-three format.
The winners of these matches will advance to the Eastern Conference final, with the victor moving on to compete against the Western Conference champion in the MLS Cup final on December 7.
“This season has had good and bad things,” said Miami manager Gerardo Martino.
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“If you think about the expectations we had for this play-offs, obviously we came up a little short.
“The players are sad, as they should be when there are so many expectations and the team can’t fulfil them.
“In this final part of the year we got used to achieving the objectives but we couldn’t achieve the most important one.”
Miami defender Alba said the MLS Cup format is “a bit unfair”.
“It’s been done for many years but I think it should be the champion of one conference against the champion of the other to make it as fair as possible,” he said.
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