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Lionel Messi scores but Inter Miami suffer stunning first-round elimination from MLS playoffs

Atlanta United defeated Inter Miami 3-2 on Saturday night to win their best-of-three first round playoff series in three games.

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) runs with the ball after scoring a goal during the second half of their MLS playoff opening round soccer match against Atlanta United. (AP)

Lionel Messi’s goal failed to rescue Inter Miami as Atlanta United won the match 3-2 to win their best-of-three first round playoff series in three games.

In the dying minutes, Messi twice had the chance to level the score but his free-kicks hit the wall of Atlanta defenders.

For Atlanta United, Jamal Thiare scored twice, while Bartosz Slisz’s header in the 76th minute proved to be the winner.

Jamal Thiare's brace was HUGE for @ALTUTD. // Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/yVEpcHTlyT

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 10, 2024

However, it was Matias Rojas who gave Inter Miami the lead in the 17th minute, but Jamal Thiare quick brace turned things around. Lionel Messi found the back of the nets in the 65th with a header. But Bartosz Slisz sealed the win for Atlanta United.

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“There’s some fairy dust in our locker room, man,” Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan said after stopping seven shots, some of them in spectacular fashion, and giving Slisz a big hug in response to his goal. “I couldn’t be more proud of our guys.”

Miami loaded with eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi and his former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba failed to inspire the team.

“In this last part of the year we get used to achieving the objectives that we set for ourselves and we have not been able to achieve the most important one,” Gerardo Martino told reporters.

Miami need a goal. Who else? MESSI delivers.@InterMiamiCF // Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/jqYMye2FCj

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 10, 2024

“If you think about where we were in November last year, obviously there is progress as far as the club is concerned, not just the team,” Martino said. “If you think about the expectations we had for this playoff, obviously we have fallen too short.”

For whatever reason, Atlanta was a matchup nightmare for Inter Miami this season. It beat Inter Miami three times, all of them with Messi in the lineup; every other MLS team combined to get three wins over Inter Miami.

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“It’s everybody. It’s a joint effort,” Atlanta United interim coach Rob Valentino said.

“We talked about it before the game, we talked about it all year long that it’s not going to be just one player. It’s a collective effort and that’s what happened tonight.