Lionel Messi scored again. It was Inter Miami’s only highlight. That’s because Major League Soccer’s 10-game winning streak was ended by an Atlanta United team that won its first league title in nearly two months.
Saba Lobjanidze scored a goal in each half, Jamal Thiaré scored in the 73rd minute to put the game away and Atlanta United snapped a nine-game winless streak in MLS with a 3-1 win on Wednesday night.
Atlanta United is 0-5-4 in MLS play since beating Chicago 3-0 on March 31. But they never trailed on Wednesday, with Lovzanidze scoring late in the first half to put his team on top and adding a second goal in the 59th minute. . After Messi’s goal, Atlanta United had all 10 players on the field at the defensive end whenever the home side had deep possession in the final 30 minutes.
Messi scored his 11th goal of the MLS season, joining Luis Suarez for the team lead. Inter Miami (10-3-4, 34 points) is first in the Eastern Conference and maintains a one-point lead in the overall MLS standings over Cincinnati (10-3-3, 33 points). Cincinnati lost its chance to clinch the top spot with a loss to Nashville on Wednesday night.
Inter Miami entered Wednesday 7-0-3 in their last 10 MLS games. When allowing two or fewer goals in MLS games this season, they are 10-0-4, and when giving up three or more goals are 0-3-0.
So Wednesday was stupid. But the first half of the season largely went as planned.
They have 34 points through exactly half of their MLS schedule. It matches his points total for the entire 2023 season, when Messi joined at the halfway mark and helped the team win the League Cup but miss out on the play-offs. Inter Miami is growing at a rapid pace. Scored 68 points this season.
Mathematically, yes. you’re right.
In reality, probably not much.
As of now, the plan is for Messi to play at least a few minutes when Inter Miami plays St. Louis on Saturday. Messi would then swap Inter Miami’s pink kit for Argentina’s blue kit and briefly play for his country instead of for club.
The Copa America, a 16-team tournament taking place from June 20 to July 14, is approaching and Messi could play for defending champions Argentina while Suarez could play for Uruguay. Inter Miami could miss MLS matches in Philadelphia (June 15), Columbus (June 19), Nashville (June 29), Charlotte (July 3) and Cincinnati (July 6) . Following the Copa America final, Miami will also play home games against Toronto (July 17) and Chicago (July 20).
Unlike most leagues, MLS schedules matches during some FIFA fixture periods where it is essential to have players available for the national team. And after the Copa, it seems likely that Inter Miami will lose some players again when the national team is called up for the Paris Olympics.
Messi had a few chances early in the game, including a diving header that Jordi Alba chipped into the center of the box just over four minutes into the game. Messi parried some contact and sent the ball onto the turf, where the carom spun over the crossbar. He smiled and pulled himself up from the grass, giving Alba a thumbs up for the idea.
And in the 21st minute, Messi sent a chip towards the left post. He could have scored as many goals if he had been able to get a header in. He finished just past Robert Taylor.
His goal in the 63rd minute was a classic Messi masterpiece. The goal was barely out of reach of Atlanta goalkeeper Josh Cohen, who threaded the ball between two defenders and just inside the right post.
The Associated Press reported.
Lionell Messi
Inter Miami CF
MLS
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