Despite Inter Miami earning the first victory of the best-of-three series in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, Atlanta United didn’t roll over. In fact, momentarily on Friday, the team made the Supporters’ Shield winners look human, including Lionel Messi.
The Miami captain’s first MLS playoff match was a tense affair that saw Inter Miami prevail 2-1 over the visitors. Miami will take a 1-0 lead to Atlanta on Nov. 2. Despite goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s best efforts, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba secured the win for the home team with a goal apiece. Atlanta winger Saba Lobjanidze, who has scored four times against Miami this year, briefly equalized in the 39th minute before Alba’s second-half golazo.
Former Atlanta manager Tata Martino, now with Miami, will be welcomed back in Atlanta as he looks to eliminate the club he led to MLS Cup glory in 2018.
Paul Tenorio and Felipe Cardenas were on hand in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to break down the key moments of Friday’s playoff match.
An early warning and a second-half winner
It felt for long stretches of Friday night like Atlanta United goalkeeper Guzan was unbeatable.
Suarez had bested Guzan just two minutes into the game to give Inter Miami an early lead. But after that goal, no matter how Miami challenged Guzan, the goalkeeper had an answer. Then, off of a short corner, as the game neared the hour mark, Messi got the ball near the corner of the box. Two Atlanta United defenders went to close him out and Messi played a quick pass to Alba.
From well outside the box, Alba looked up, took a touch and pinged a shot that beat Guzan at the near post. It was a stunning finish — a special goal on a night when it seemed something special was going to be necessary to break the game open.
JORDI ALBA FOR THE LEAD 🔥@InterMiamiCF // Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/1TexkMpTM3
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 26, 2024
The goals were also a reminder of what has made Inter Miami so dangerous this season and what will make them a tough out in these playoffs. Two of the biggest stars on the team, Suarez and Alba, delivered in the biggest moments. Miami’s quartet of stars — Messi, Alba, Suarez and Sergio Busquets — combined for 45 goals and 46 assists this season. They contributed two goals and two assists on Friday.
Guzan made several key saves for Atlanta. (Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
Guzan denies Messi on multiple occasions
Anyone would put big money on Messi scoring from a point-blank shot from inside an opponent’s six-yard box. Right? On Friday night, Guzan, Atlanta United’s 40-year-old goalkeeper, denied Messi from close range which would’ve put Miami up 3-1. After Guzan’s improbable reflex save, Messi stared down the American goalkeeper in disbelief. How did that not go in? Messi then angrily kicked the ball towards the corner flag.
Guzan, the former U.S. international goalkeeper, has been Atlanta United’s best player in 2024. He was crucial in keeping the game close despite being under constant duress. Atlanta lost two starting defenders, Brooks Lennon and Stian Rode Gregersen, in the first half to injuries. What could’ve gone wrong went wrong for the visiting side.
“I liked what we did tonight. We were in control. If it weren’t for Brad’s performance we would’ve scored more goals,” said Martino, who previously coached Guzan in Atlanta.
Oh my Brad Guzan 🧤
📺 Free on @AppleTV: https://t.co/81yjNWp5KF pic.twitter.com/qfxFJU3vsH
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 26, 2024
But it doesn’t matter what the final score is in MLS’ best-of-three series. There’s no aggregate goal tally to help a team advance. To lose a tight match against the league’s best team will salvage enough confidence for Atlanta that a win is possible in Game 2.
To Guzan, who has an option year left on his current contract, age is just a number.
Busy week catches up to Atlanta
As the ninth-place finishers in the Eastern Conference, Atlanta had to get through the play-in game to make it to Friday night’s opener in Miami. That meant a Saturday-Tuesday-Friday turnaround in Orlando, Montreal and Fort Lauderdale.
In some ways, a 2-1 loss probably felt a bit like a win.
Atlanta United made two substitutions due to injury by the 35th minute. They made another two changes at halftime. Miami, meanwhile, had nearly the full week off and didn’t make a substitution until the 68th minute, with Messi, Busquets, Alba and Suarez playing a full 90 minutes.
The home-field advantage and fresher legs showed for long stretches on Friday night, but Miami’s inability to find a second goal in the first half hour allowed Atlanta to hang around. In the end, Miami’s control of the game wore Atlanta down and Alba’s finish provided the margin. The toll the week took Atlanta was clear. After hitting one final punt in the final seconds of the game, even Guzan needed a second on the ground to take a breath and recover.
Atlanta will now get a much-needed full week off to recover before its home leg in what is a must-win game to keep its season alive.
What did Miami head coach Tata Martino say?
Talking about playing against Atlanta: “For us, it was important that we defeated Atlanta for the first time this season. It’s noteworthy that we won when we did. They’re a complicated side. Well coached. Rob (Valentino) has done a great job. Atlanta didn’t have to come out and try to win in the second half. They could’ve played for penalties. The revenge match in Atlanta will be difficult. They take advantage of the space on the pitch.”
What next in the series?
Saturday, Nov. 2: Game 2 in Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), 7 pm ET
Saturday, Nov. 9: Game 3, if needed in Miami (Chase Stadium), 8 pm ET
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(Top photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Images)
