Football | Atlanta stun overwhelming favourites Miami to reach MLS semis

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Nov 9, 2024; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; Inter Miami CF midfielder Matias Rojas (7) celebrates with Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) after scoring a goal during the first half against Atlanta United in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match at Chase Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

(Reuters)

Lionel Messi’s first trip to the MLS postseason ended abruptly on Saturday, as midfielder Bartosz Slisz headed in the game-winner for Atlanta United in a staggering, 3-2 upset over Inter Miami in Round One.

Forward Jamal Thiare got Atlanta on the board in the 19th minute and struck again two minutes later, before Slisz put them over the top in the 76th minute to set up a meeting in the semi-final stage against Orlando City SC.

Miami were overwhelming favourites to win it all after producing a league record 74 points in the regular season but could not keep the momentum after Matias Rojas’ close-range goal in the 17th minute and Messi’s score in the 65th minute.

“There’s some fairy dust in our locker room,” said Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who held his ground against Miami’s unrelenting offence. “On to the next one.”

A sea of pink-clad Miami fans held their breath as Thiare hit the woodwork in the 15th minute and Atlanta applied the pressure out of the gate.

Guzan made a diving leap to stop Messi’s powerful shot from the centre of the box in the 17th minute but could not recover in time to stop Rojas’ follow-up from close range, as Miami drew first blood.

Nov 9, 2024; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; Atlanta United forward Jamal Thiare (29) celebrates after scoring a goal during the first half against Inter Miami CF in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match at Chase Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Thiare responded quickly, drilling one into the right top corner, and had another superb finish off a neat flick from midfielder Aleksey Miranchuk in the 21st minute.

Miami midfielder Diego Gomez nearly levelled it in the 24th minute, beating Atlanta defender Ronald Hernandez and slipping the ball past Guzan, but the goal was called off.

Guzan kept up his guard in the second half, swatting aside a superb header from defender Jordi Alba in the 52nd minute, but Messi broke through the 40-year-old keeper’s defences to level it with the header from close range.

Nov 9, 2024; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; Inter Miami CF midfielder Matias Rojas (7) celebrates with Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) and Inter Miami CF forward Luis Suarez (9) after scoring a goal during the first half against Atlanta United in in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match at Chase Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

With their backs against the wall, Atlanta refused to take their foot off the gas, and Slisz leapt into the air to head one in off a perfect cross from defender Pedro Amador.

Miami earned a free kick in stoppage time, but Messi kicked it into a wall of Atlanta players and frantic late attempts to score went unrewarded.