Mercedes-Benz Stadium- Inter Miami lost Game 2 of their Best-of-3 Series Saturday night in Atlanta after Xande Silva blasted a shot past Drake Callender 4 minutes into stoppage time forcing a Game 3 showdown at Chase Stadium on November 9th. Defender David Martinez scored Miami’s lone goal after a blatant Brad Guzan mistake.
Starting XI
The Herons lined up in a 5-3-2 formation to face Atlanta United with Drake Callender in goal. The backline consisted of Jordi Alba, Noah Allen, David Martinez, Tomas Aviles, and Marcelo Weigandt. Yannick Bright, Diego Gomez, and Fernando Redondo formed the youthful midfield. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were the legendary forward duo.
Noah Allen’s inclusion in the Starting XI for #InterMiamiCF alongside Jordi Alba points to a 5-3-2 formation for the Herons to begin the match 🆚 Atlanta…#Messi & the boys minus Busquets look to win & move on tonight…#MLSCupPlayoffs #MLSCup #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/OOOQScC4gZ
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) November 2, 2024
Match Action
The first 10 minutes of the match began with Inter Miami in clear control of the action, possessing and moving the ball all over the pitch.
The Heron’s have looked comfortable in the opening 10minutes of the match 🆚 Atlanta… #InterMiamiCF has controlled possession & has moved the ball ⚽️ all over the pitch… #MLS #MLSCupPlayoffs #MLSCup #Messi pic.twitter.com/dp5VvSZeqv
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) November 2, 2024
Slowly, Atlanta began to warm up to the match as the game began to balance out. United, with less ball possession, created chances on Miami’s goal. Late in the first half in the 40th minute, a Brad Guzan blunder led to Miami’s lone goal in the game; Guzan was spooked by Federico Redondo and dropped the ball next to the Miami midfielder. Federico gave a short pass to David Martinez who finished with a lovely chip into the empty United net for the 0-1 lead.
Brad Guzan with what appears to be a monumental mistake literally drops the ball ⚽️ & allows David Martínez to kick it in to an empty net…#InterMiamiCF leads 0-1 in Atlanta…#MLS #MLSCupPlayoffs #Messi
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) November 2, 2024
Inter Miami went into halftime with a 0-1 lead playing good football, but unable to put Atlanta away despite creating several clear scoring chances.
The Heron’s lead 0-1 at the half… Good first half for #InterMiamiCF but they have to put a tough Atlanta team away …United once again is doing a nice job defending #Messi #MLS #MLSCupPlayoffs #Messi pic.twitter.com/489rAtD0mK
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) November 3, 2024
The second half was a more even display by both sides but Atlanta seemed to get stronger as Miami lost some energy. Atlanta once again got on the scoreboard through a header in these playoffs. Pablo Amador crossed a ball into the box that Derrick Williams hammered past Drake Callender for the 1-1 tie.
Atlanta has been so good scoring headers in the playoffs… United gets on the board with a Derrick Williams header to tie the match 1-1 giving Atlanta & its home fans new life…#MLS #MLSCupPlayoffs #InterMiamiCF
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) November 3, 2024
The Atlanta home crowd of 68,445 fans went wild with the tying goal. Inter Miami continued to press forward looking for the game-winning goal but it was Atlanta that scored the dagger in stoppage time. Xande Silva blasted a missile past Callender 4 minutes into stoppage time to give Atlanta the Game 2 victory and force a Game 3 in Miami.
Xande Silva blasts what appears to be the game winner in 4 minutes of stoppage time after a lethal counter by Atlanta 2-1… Game 3 will be in Miami…#MLS #MLSCupPlayoffs #InterMiamiCF
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) November 3, 2024
Postgame
Tata Martino felt that Miami’s lack of sharpness in their scoring chances and Atlanta’s ability to take advantage with fewer opportunities was the difference in a game Miami desrved to win,
I think we did a lot to deserve to win the game. Even in the last 10 minutes, we decided to go for it with four attackers. Once again, we weren’t sharp in front of goal, and I understand that Atlanta, with fewer chances, fewer approaches, and less control of the game, ended up taking it in the end.
In the end, the only thing that matters is goals scored. Playoffs are about winning, not about deserving to win. Miami will have a tough Game 3 at Chase Stadium versus Atlanta, a team that has no fear and believes that they can upset the Herons. Dax McCarty summarized it perfectly,
We’re in a good run of form, we’re playing with no fear. We’re playing like we have nothing to lose..
Atlanta United is playing well at the right time and have the confidence that they call pull the major upset in Miami. The herons have to be ready, and Lionel Messi must be the difference at home.
Final Thoughts
Lionel Messi has not been bad in this series with Atlanta, but he hasn’t been the extraordinary player we have become accustomed to. To Messi’s credit, United has made it a focus to make the game uncomfortable for him with constant pressure and bodies around him. Regardless, Lionel Messi must score and provide assists next Saturday night in Miami or the Herons could be on the wrong end of a major upset.
Reinforcements are on the way as Sergio Busquets should be ready for Game 3. Busquets is the glue that holds the team together, the key to moving the ball cleanly all over the pitch.
Yannick Bright suffered an injury and had to be substituted to begin the second half. If Bright is unable to play it would be a big blow to Miami’s defense. Yannick covers ground all over the pitch winning balls before dangerous sequences can begin.
Inter Miami must be razor sharp Saturday night, because if they are not Atlanta could pull the upset.
Messi, busquets, Alba, and Suarez were all assembled for pressure moments like these. They have been on the biggest stages of world football and on Saturday they must make their experience count.
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