Inter Miami and Atlanta United drew 2-2 at Nu Stadium in Week 23 of the MLS regular season.
Lionel Messi provided an assist and came within inches of giving the home side the victory with an Olympic corner kick in the dying minutes. It would have been the first of his career. Casemiro and Luis Suárez scored for Inter Miami, while Miguel Almirón and Breel Embolo scored for Gerardo Martino’s team.
After a slow start, Inter Miami opened the scoring in the 31st minute: Messi took a corner kick and Casemiro converted to make it 1-0. The response came just three minutes later when Almirón pounced on a rebound from goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair to level the score. Before halftime, the Argentine captain hit the post with a free kick, and in the 45th minute, Suárez calmly converted a one-on-one opportunity to make it 2-1.
Atlanta United improved during the second half and earned two penalties. In the 72nd minute, Almirón took the first, but St. Clair guessed correctly and saved the shot. The visitors maintained their dominance and had another chance from the penalty spot in the 86th minute: this time, Embolo struck the ball powerfully to tie the game at 2-2.
The closing stages saw chances for both teams. Inter Miami came close with two consecutive shots, and in the final moments of the match, Messi attempted an Olympic goal: the ball hit the post after the goalkeeper’s intervention.
Shortly after, Germán Berterame found himself unmarked but headed wide. The match ended with tension and a confrontation between players from both sides, with the Rosario native involved in the argument, particularly with Paraguayan Junior Alonso.
