Lionel Messi and Inter Miami crash out of MLS playoffs in stunning loss to Atlanta United
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Lionel Messi and Inter Miami suffered a shock elimination in the first round of the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs on Saturday, losing 3-2 to No. 9 seed Atlanta United on home soil in the best-of-three series decider.
Miami midfielder Matías Rojas opened the scoring in the 17th minute, but Atlanta United hit back soon after with two goals in two minutes from striker Jamal Thiaré to take the lead at half time.
Argentine superstar Messi leveled the game at 2-2 in the 65th minute with his first goal in the playoffs, but Bartosz Slisz scored a header in the 76th minute to lift Atlanta to one of the biggest upsets in MLS history over No. 1 Miami.
Miami had a record-breaking regular season, finishing with a record 74 points and taking home the Supporters’ Shield. That secured the team a controversial invite to the FIFA Club World Cup, and Miami came into the playoffs as favorite to lift the MLS Cup.
Miami defender Jordi Alba, who is unaccustomed to a soccer postseason after spending his career in Europe, said the playoff format “seems a little unfair.”
“It is clear that it has been done this way for many years, but if you ask me, if it were up to me, I would have the champion of one conference against the champion of the other, to make it as fair as possible, that’s how it is,” he said, per ESPN.
“I repeat, congratulations to the rival team. I think they competed very well against us, they knew their weapons, the goalkeeper was spectacular … I think that is what clearly marked the difference.”
