Lionel Messi and Inter Miami may be the favorites to win MLS Cup this season. But they now find themselves on the brink of elimination from the postseason.
Xande Silva scored the game-winning goal in extra time (90’+4’), and Atlanta United beat Inter Miami 2-1 on Saturday night to force a winner-take-all Game 3 in their best-of-three, first-round series in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Game 3 will be played at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium on Nov. 9 (8 p.m. ET).
Messi, the Argentine World Cup champion and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, remains scoreless through the first two MLS postseason matches of his career.
‘We have the advantage that there is a lot of hierarchy in the team with players who have been through much more difficult situations than this one,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said.
Inter Miami was less than two minutes away from a penalty shootout, where their stars like Messi, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba would have had a chance to put the series away and advance to the second round of the playoffs.
Silva entered the match as a substitute in the 89th minute, and his goal ended a mostly deadlocked second half after Derrick Williams scored the equalizer with a header in the 58th minute.
“The way it goes down is just wild. I guess that’s our story this year. We make things interesting, don’t we?” interim Atlanta United coach Rob Valentino said of Silva’s score, which extended their season.
Before Game 1 of the series, Atlanta played three matches in a span of six days – beating Orlando on the road in the season finale to reach the postseason, then playing at Montreal in the Eastern Conference wild-card match.
Now, Atlanta United has a chance as the No. 9 seed to upset No. 1 Inter Miami and spoil a historic season.
“Words can’t describe it. … They’re so resilient. They just don’t go away,” Valentino said in a postgame interview on Apple TV.
Defender David Martinez scored for Inter Miami in the 40th minute during a quirky sequence, where Atlanta goalie Brad Guzan turned the ball over in an attempt to make a clearance.
Guzan’s left leg appeared to hit the turf as he winded up for a kick to clear a possession while next to Inter Miami midfielder Federico Redondo.
It did not appear Redondo contacted Guzan during the sequence. But he gained possession and found Martinez, who floated his first career goal above a defender into an empty net.
Messi picked and chose his spots in the match, sending passes into the penalty area from near midfield, finding teammates like Alba and Diego Gomez for possessions near the net — but to no avail.
Messi missed all four of his shots during the match, including one outside the left post in the first half, and outside the right post in the second half. He found the back of the net with a header, but was offsides just a minute before Silva’s game-winner.
Inter Miami chose to insert goal scorers Leo Campana and Matias Rojas in the 84th minute, favoring offense over defense. Midfielder Gomez and defender Noah Allen were the players subbed out for the pair.
Inter Miami was already without legendary midfielder Sergio Busquets, who suffered an injury in Game 1 and was sick with pneumonia this week, Martino said. Midfielder Yannick Bright also left the game with a hamstring injury, being replaced at halftime by Benjamin Cremaschi.
“We did a lot to deserve to win the match, but in the last few minutes we decided to go for it with four attackers,” Martino said of his substitutions.
Atlanta United’s leading scorer, Saba Lobjanidze, had a prime opportunity to break the tie, but his shot was tipped by Inter Miami goalie Drake Callender and hit the cross bar in the 90th minute.
While Inter Miami won Game 1 of the series, Atlanta United has a draw and two victories against the MLS Supporters’ Shield champions and owners of the MLS record for points in a season (74).
The winner of the first-round series between No. 1-seed Inter Miami and No. 9-seed Atlanta will face the winner between No. 4 Orlando City and No. 5 Charlotte. Orlando City will host Game 3 on Nov. 9, after Charlotte rebounded from a Game 1 loss to win a penalty shootout on Friday night.
Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United highlights
Xande Silva goal: Atlanta United 2, Inter Miami 1
This series is seconds away from a Game 3, thanks to an extra time goal by Xande Silva to help Atlanta United take a 2-1 lead in the final minutes.
Drake Callender save in the 90th minute: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 1
Atlanta United’s leading scorer Saba Lobjanidze had a prime opportunity, but his shot was tipped by Inter Miami goalie Drake Callender and hit the post
Messi misses chance to score goal: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 1
Messi is left wondering about this missed opportunity, soaring a left boot into the stands in the 83rd minute. Inter Miami has dominated possession, with Messi orchestrating the offense. But the club has been unable to find a soft spot in Atlanta’s defense.
Messi, Suarez miss shots in 70th minute: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 1
Messi missed a shot just outside of the right post off a corner kick by Luis Suarez, following a busy sequence.
Before the shot, Messi sent a pass into the box and Diego Gomez passed it to Luis Suarez, but his shot was blocked by Atlanta goalie Brad Guzan in the 69th minute.
Atlanta’s Ajani Fortune misses putback: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 1
Atlanta’s Ajani Fortune missed a golden opportunity to help his side take a 2-1 lead, missing a putback shot with Inter Miami goalie Drake Callender unable to regain his footing following a contest in the 62nd minute.
Derrick Williams scores goal: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 1
Atlanta United is on the board thanks to a header by defender Derrick Williams in the 58th minute. Williams may have missed a header earlier in the match, but he didn’t miss this one. He scored past Inter Miami goalie Drake Callender, and this match is tied at 1.
David Martinez goal: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 0
A chaotic sequence leads to a 1-0 lead for Inter Miami. Atlanta United goalie Brad Guzan tried to clear the ball, but was tripped up and lost possession. The ball was stolen by Inter Miami’s Federico Redondo, and defender David Martinez scored a floater into an empty net in the 40th minute.
Aleksei Miranchuk misses shot in 28′: Inter Miami 0, Atlanta United 0
Atlanta’s Aleksei Miranchuk fired off a left boot, which was saved by Inter Miami goalie Drake Callender in the 28th minute.
Derrick Williams misses header in 25′: Inter Miami 0, Atlanta United 0
Atlanta’s Derrick Williams nearly put his side on the board, but was unable to find the back of the net with his header.
Lionel Messi misses shot near net: Inter Miami 0, Atlanta United 0
Messi charges forward, passes to his left to Diego Gomez, and got the ball back. But Messi’s shot was just outside the left side of the net in the 22nd minute.
Messi and Atlanta goalie Brad Guzan, who kept him scoreless in Game 1, shared a lighthearted embrace following the sequence.
Luis Suarez misses shot in third minute: Inter Miami 0, Atlanta United 0
Luis Suarez, who scored two minutes into Game 1, missed an early shot in the third minute of the match. Suarez’s shot soared over Atlanta goalie Brad Guzan and the net, but worth noting the early opportunity.
Inter Miami also had an opportunity with Jordi Alba unable to receive a pass from Chelo Weigandt a minute earlier.
How to watch Atlanta vs. Inter Miami free live stream
The match is available on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.
Is Messi playing tonight?
Yes, Messi is in the starting lineup for Inter Miami’s game in Atlanta.
Inter Miami and Atlanta United starting lineups
Messi is in the starting lineup, while midfielder/center back Sergio Busquets (illness) is not on the gameday roster for Inter Miami. Here are the starting lineups for both clubs:
Atlanta vs. Inter Miami betting odds
Moneyline: Inter Miami (-110); Atlanta (+230); Tie after regulation (+300)
Over/under: 3.5 goals
Betting odds provided by BETMGM.
Inter Miami players to watch
Messi and Luis Suarez led Inter Miami with 20 goals each during the 2024 MLS season, becoming the first pair of teammates to accomplish the feat. Suarez scored in the second minute against Atlanta in Game 1, while Messi is still looking for his first goal in the MLS playoffs.
Atlanta United players to watch
Top goal scorer Saba Lobjanidze has scored four goals in three matches against Inter Miami this season, including the equalizer in Game 1. Also, keep an eye on goalie Brad Guzan, who had eight saves and kept Messi at bay in Game 1.
If Atlanta United wins tonight
Atlanta would force Game 3 in the first-round series to be played at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium on Nov. 9.
If Inter Miami wins tonight
Inter Miami would advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, awaiting the winner between No. 4 Orlando City and No. 5 Charlotte.
MLS Cup Playoff Picture
The second leg of the first round continues with three matches on Saturday, and another tripleheader Sunday.
L.A. Galaxy, the No. 2 seed in the West, became the first team to advance to the semifinals Friday night, beating No. 7 seed Colorado 4-1 to win their first-round series. Meanwhile, Charlotte forced Game 3 with a penalty shootout victory at home against No. 4 Orlando City.
The third game for each first-round series, if necessary, will be played Nov. 8-10.
MLS Cup Playoff games on Saturday
New York City vs. FC Cincinnati, 5 p.m. ET (Cincinnati leads 1-0)
Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami, 7 p.m. ET (Inter Miami leads 1-0)
Minnesota vs. Real Salt Lake, 9 p.m. ET (Minnesota leads 1-0)
MLS Cup Playoff games on Sunday
New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew, 4:30 p.m. ET (New York leads 1-0)
Houston Dynamo vs. Seattle Sounders, 6:30 p.m. ET (Seattle leads 1-0)
Vancouver vs. LAFC, 8:45 p.m. ET (LAFC leads 1-0)
When is the MLS Cup Playoff Semifinals?
The conference semifinals will be Nov. 23-24 after a FIFA international window.
When is the MLS Cup Playoff Conference Finals?
The Eastern and Western Conference Finals will be played Nov. 30-Dec. 1.
When is the MLS Cup final?
The MLS Cup final will be played on Dec. 7.