May 30th 2024.
Fort Lauderdale was buzzing with excitement as Lionel Messi once again proved his prowess on the field. However, it was not enough to lift Inter Miami to victory as they faced a tough defeat against Atlanta United. The latter finally secured their first league win in almost two months, snapping their nine-match winless streak.
Saba Lobjanidze was the star of the night for Atlanta United, scoring one goal in each half and helping his team seal the deal with a goal in the 73rd minute. Despite Messi's impressive performance, Atlanta United maintained their lead and kept all their field players in the defensive end during the final 30 minutes of the game when Inter Miami had deep possession.
Messi's goal marked his 11th goal of the MLS season, tying him with Luis Suarez for the team lead. However, Inter Miami still managed to maintain their one-point lead at the top of the Eastern Conference and the overall MLS standings, thanks to Cincinnati's loss to Nashville on the same night.
Inter Miami coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino expressed his disappointment with his team's performance, saying, "We were missing a gear." This defeat was a setback for Inter Miami, who had been on a roll with a 7-0-3 record in their last 10 MLS matches. Nevertheless, they still hold an impressive record of 10-0-4 when allowing two goals or less in MLS play this season.
Martino admitted that this was not their best night and that the team took a step back compared to their previous matches. However, he also acknowledged that the first half of the season had gone according to plan, with Inter Miami securing 34 points through exactly half of the MLS schedule. This matched their total points from the entire 2023 season when Messi joined the team and helped them win Leagues Cup, but they were unable to make it to the playoffs.
As the team looks ahead to their upcoming matches, they will have to make do without Messi for some time as he joins the Argentine national team for the Copa América tournament. His teammate Luis Suarez is also a possibility to play for Uruguay, which may cause them to miss some MLS matches against Philadelphia, Columbus, Nashville, Charlotte, and Cincinnati. Following the Copa América final, Inter Miami will have home matches against Toronto and Chicago.
Unlike most leagues, MLS schedules games during FIFA fixture periods, which require players to join their national teams. After Copa América, it is likely that Inter Miami will once again lose some players when national teams call for the Paris Olympics. Despite these potential setbacks, the team remains optimistic and is aiming to secure a total of 68 points this season.
During the match, Messi had a few opportunities to score, including a diving header in the early minutes of the game and a chip towards the left post in the 21st minute. However, his goal in the 63rd minute was a true masterpiece, as he skillfully threaded the ball between two defenders and found the back of the net, just out of reach of Atlanta's goalkeeper Josh Cohen.
As the first half of the season comes to a close, Inter Miami will look to continue their strong performance and maintain their lead in the Eastern Conference. However, they will also have to navigate through some challenges, including international tournaments and potential player absences. But with Messi leading the way, the team is determined to overcome these challenges and make it to the playoffs this season.
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