Atlanta United Stuns Inter Miami, Ousts Messi and Top-Seeded Team from MLS Cup Playoffs
Lionel Messi walked off the field and into the tunnel leading to the Inter Miami locker room a few seconds after the final whistle blew, hardly any emotion on his face.
He didn’t want to see the celebration.
Atlanta United’s Upset Victory
Atlanta United ousted Messi and Major League Soccer’s biggest-spending team earlier than anyone imagined from the MLS Cup playoffs. Jamal Thiaré scored twice, Bartosz Slisz’s header in the 76th minute was the winner, and Atlanta United stunned Inter Miami 3-2 on Saturday night to win their best-of-three first round playoff series in three games.
Post-Match Reaction
“There’s some fairy dust in our locker room, man,” Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan said after stopping seven shots, some of them in spectacular fashion, and giving Slisz a big hug in response to his goal. “I couldn’t be more proud of our guys.”
Two free kicks by Messi in the final minutes hit the wall of Atlanta defenders, and time eventually ran out on soccer’s most decorated player and his team. Messi’s header — yes, header — in the 65th minute tied the match at 2-2, but the hosts never reclaimed the lead.
Atlanta United’s Collective Effort
“It’s everybody. It’s a joint effort,” Atlanta United interim coach Rob Valentino said. “We talked about it before the game, we talked about it all year long that it’s not going to be just one player. It’s a collective effort and that’s what happened tonight.
East is Suddenly Wide Open
The team with the best record won the MLS Cup four times in the league’s first seven seasons. In the 22 seasons since, the top overall seed has gone on to win the title only four more times.
And on paper, there may never have been a bigger upset than this one — a No. 9 seed vs. a No. 1 seed, and not just that, a No. 1 seed with Messi in the lineup.
Conclusion
Atlanta United’s stunning upset victory over Inter Miami will be remembered as one of the biggest shocks in MLS Cup playoff history. The team’s collective effort and determination paid off, as they ousted the top-seeded team and sent them packing from the playoffs.
FAQs
Q: What was the score of the match?
A: Atlanta United won 3-2 against Inter Miami.
Q: Who scored the winning goal?
A: Bartosz Slisz scored the winning header in the 76th minute.
Q: What was the significance of this match?
A: The match was a major upset, as Atlanta United, the No. 9 seed, defeated Inter Miami, the No. 1 seed, in the MLS Cup playoffs.
Q: What was the reaction of the teams after the match?
A: Atlanta United’s players and coach were ecstatic about their victory, while Inter Miami’s players and coach were disappointed and frustrated.
Q: What does this mean for the MLS Cup playoffs?
A: The upset victory by Atlanta United opens up the East conference, as the team with the best record in the regular season is no longer in the playoffs.
