Inter Miami, with Lionel Messi in the starting eleven, was eliminated from the MLS in the United States, after losing tonight 3-2 at home to Atlanta United, who advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
In the match played last night at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Inter went on to win with a goal by Paraguayan Matías Rojas at 17 minutes of the first half. However, Atlanta turned it around with two goals by Senegalese Jamal Thiare, at 19 and 21 minutes.
In the second half, Messi scored Inter’s equalizer, by scoring a header at 20 minutes of the second half, but ten minutes later, the Polish Bartosz Slisz scored Atlanta’s third goal.
The defeat left Messi’s team empty-handed, after having had an impeccable regular season; In fact, they finished first in the Eastern Conference with a wide advantage over Columbus Crew, their closest pursuer.
In the play-offs, Inter had won the first match against Atlanta by 2-1, in the return match the Georgian team won by the same score and tonight they made a strong showing at Inter’s home and secured qualification for the semi-finals, where they will face Orlando City.
The elimination is a hard blow for Inter, who were betting on fighting for this season’s MLS title, and now they must start again next season.
In addition to Messi, the Argentines Marcelo Weigandt, Tomás Avilés, Héctor Martínez and Federico Redondo, and the Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, also played for his team.
