It was a much-needed burst of glory for Atlanta United as they put a stop to Inter Miami's impressive streak, with a 3-1 victory that rekindled the fire under a team that hadn't tasted victory in league play since late March. The Wednesday night showdown at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium saw the home team snap out of a nine-match winless dud, giving fans something to finally cheer about.
The star of the show for Atlanta was none other than Saba Lobjanidze, who found the back of the net twice, sealing the deal for Atlanta's resurgence. Jamal Thiaré also contributed to the scorers' tally, hammering in a third goal that sealed the fate of Inter Miami in the 73rd minute. Despite Lionel Messi's scoring prowess which continued unabated with an 11th goal for Miami, his efforts weren't enough to sustain the team's sprinting streak, as reported by WABE.
The victory was a sharp turn for Atlanta, whose performance, until now, had been lackluster with a 0-5-4 run in MLS play since their March triumph over Chicago. Lobjanidze's double down, first late in the first half and again in the 59th minute, together with the support from Thiaré, showcased a side of Atlanta desperate to climb back up the ladder.
While the night ended Miami's winning streak, their overall season success shouldn't be dismissed. Before the setback, Miami fans were reveling in a 7-0-3 run over the last 10 MLS matches. However, they are now aware that their squad is 10-0-4 when conceding two goals or less, and 0-3-0 when allowing more, a stat that perhaps will add a bit of caution to their swagger going forward. Inter Miami coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino assessed the performance quite bluntly, proclaiming, "I’d say it was a night where the team went backwards from other matches," according to the same WABE article.
Looking ahead, as the MLS schedule marches forward, Miami and its fans will soon wave goodbye to Messi as he swaps club duties for national pride in the upcoming Copa América. The tournament's schedule means that Inter Miami might be without their star and potentially others, including Luis Suarez, as they ply their talents on the international stage for a few weeks.
The ripple effect of the international calendar means that Inter Miami could be looking at a series of matches without their top players. It's a scenario not unique to Miami, as the whole league often feels the crunch when international competitions and the MLS schedule collide.
In the end, while Messi continues to enchant with moments of trademark magic—like that 63rd-minute goal threading the ball between defenders—it was Atlanta that stole the limelight this time. For Miami, it's about regrouping and preparing for the stretch ahead without some of their key pieces as the push for the playoffs continues.
