Fabrice Picault strikes at the death as Inter Miami come from behind to beat Atlanta United #2614
Inter Miami 2 Atlanta 1FT
On Sunday night The MLS season would continue. We are very early in the season, with little indication of what this season in Major League Soccer could become. It's way too early in the season for any of us to tell the strong sides of some of the weaker ones. The season has just begun still plenty to unfold in this campaign. Last week we were in Utah for Real Salt Lake taking on new expansion side San Diego FC. The new side and the MLS came away with a 3-1 victory as they continued a strong start to the opening season of their existence. On Sunday we would shift as we head to the south of the United States. We would be at the Mercedes-Benz Arena as Atlanta United Host Lionel Messi's Inter Miami. A rematch of last season's MLS first-round playoff. Atlanta United ended up pulling off the upset against the heavily favored Miami side. At Atlanta United finished in 9th in the Eastern Conference and barely snuck into the playoffs. They beat Miami in the first round before losing to Montreal on penalties to be knocked out in the second round of the playoffs. This summer Atlanta United brought in several arrivals from Europe. Notably Miguel Almiron From, Newcastle United, Emmanuel Latte Lath From, Middlesbrough & Aleksey Miranchuk From Atalanta United This season however They only have one victory this season only Four Points this campaign out of possible 9 available. Meanwhile, on the other side of the coin Inter Miami Last season was the best team in Major League Soccer with 74 points. Last campaign. They won the League Cup but it was a disappointment in the playoffs losing to this same side as Atlanta United knocked them out. This season former Barcelona teammate of Lionel Messi was hired as the new manager of inter Miami. They have five matches in a row with the league and Concacaf Champions League combined. They have won three of their first four matches this season. They have brought in many signings this season. This has included Baltasar Rodriguez From Racing club, Maximiliano Falcon from Colo Colo, Rocco Rios Novo from Lanus Telasco Segovia from Casa Pia AC & Tadeo Allende From Celta Vigo among others. They have capitalized on the South American market with a few European acquisitions on top of that. Lionel Messi will be making just his second appearance in the MLS this season. He has three goals in the Concacaf Champions League and two assists from the seasonal burner against New York City FC from a few weeks ago. As the MLS continues in one of the most passionate fan bases in all of Major League Soccer Mercedes Benz Arena would be the place as Atlanta United hosts Inter Miami as kickoff gets underway.
Although Inter Miami has been excellent to start the season Atlanta United still came across as a significant challenge for them. In the 4th minute, Pedro Amador unloads a strike from outside the box that runs into the teeth of the Miami defense. A minute later in the 5th minute, Miguel Almirón facilitated Tristan Muyumba From outside the box unable to test the goalkeeper as it flies over the left corner. Some early chances from Atlanta United. However, eventually, it would only continue as they looked to break it open. In the 10th minute,e Brooks Lennon delivered a cross into Emmanuel Latte Lath as he rose through the air, picking it with the header into the back of the net past Rocco Ríos Novo as Atlanta United takes a 1-0 lead with a crowd at Mercedes-Benz Arena erupting. Inter Miami dealt with early adversity away from home against the team that knocked them out of last year's playoffs. In the 17th minute, it looked like the former Middlesbrough striker scored again through a similar sequence with another header Emmanuel Latte Lath was caught offsides as their potential second goal was wiped off. Inter Miami was saved by the Bell on that one and what was coming off as very rambunctious. Sort of a start for the heavily favored side from South Beach. However, after the disallowed goal Inter Miami wasted, absolutely no time responding to Atlanta's strong start. In the 20th minute Lionel Messi shows his individual quality as well as an opportunistic moment for the goat. He picks off a pass just outside the area after a poor handling of a moment coming from Atlanta United. He then takes it into the box calmly places it in the bottom right corner past. Brad Guzan as inter Miami grabs the equalizer 1-1. It would be Lionel Messi's fourth goal of the season in all competitions. However, this would be his first goal in the MLS From last season's MLS MVP. Last season. Lionel Messi ended up with 23 goals and 13 assists. He shows his quality again proving still at 37 years old has a bit of magic in his game. Inter Miami started to gain a level of control as they looked to silence the crowd after getting The Equalizer. In the 23rd minute Telasco Segovia delivers a pass to Tadeo Allende as he strikes from outside the box The Venezuelan follows through on it but this time Brad Guzan comes up with the save. This would be followed by in the 28th minute Telasco Segovia sending a pass into the box for Luis Suarez The Uruguayan icon strikes from the side of the box before putting it just over the corner. Luis Suarez ended up with 25 goals in all competitions last season as this is the core of the dangers that Miami can possess. In the 29th minute, Atlanta United looked to hit back. Pedro Amador delivers a cross into the area Aleksey Miranchuk gets his head on the end of it, but the Russian puts it wide over the corner. Atlanta looking to display a little bit of pushback after Miami has somewhat taken a stance forward in this first half. However, the match continued to feel as if it was in the control of Inter Miami. In the 35th minute, Jordi Alba delivers it cross into the box to Lionel Messi, the Barcelona Duo connect but Lionel Messi's touch from inside the box does push over the side. The first half was beginning to come to a close in the 41st minute Atlanta looked to attack from distance as Pedro Amador sent it wide over the corner missing the proper touch on that one. In the 43rd minute, Atlanta United ended up winning a set piece with a free kick from outside the box. Aleksey Miranchuk put it into the box Stian Gregersen gets his head on the end of it as it trails off Target. This would be followed up by Aleksey Miranchuk hitting it from outside the box Ríos Novo Curry up with the save. In the 45th minute, Inter Miami got themselves a pair of chances Tadeo Allende puts his header wide from the corner. Then Lionel Messi strikes from outside the box as it flies into the hands of Brad Guzan which would signify the end of the first half with Inter Miami soon to be on the cusp of taking the lead. However, they haven't managed to do it as of yet. Through 45 minutes it's 1-1 thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Atlanta United had a really strong opportunity to build an incredibly difficult lead to overcome for Miami. They scored twice in the first 20 minutes. However, their second goal was disallowed. Then Miami went down the other end and Lionel Messi went down the other end to equalize. Since then Miami has been the better side as they look to be on the verge of possibly taking a bigger step forward and taking the lead. In the second half, as it got underway, it looked very similar to that approach from the side from South Beach. In the 52nd minute Luis Suarez delivers a ball to Jordi Alba He takes an effort from inside the box narrowly putting it over the corner. Atlanta would reply with a chance of their own 2 minutes later. In the 54th minute Saba Lobjanidze releases a pathway for Emmanuel Latte Lath From inside the box Ríos Novo comes up with a save as he makes a stop. It started to be a bit of an end-to-end sort of action. In the 55th minute. Luis Suarez sends a pass to Lionel Messi. The Argentine Superstar strikes from close range, however Brad Guzan manages to come up with the save. In the 58th minute Atlanta United came down the other end Saba Lobjanidze strikes from a complex angle but runs into the opposing defense. Then Tristan Muyumba strikes from outside the box as Ríos Novo can deal with it. In the 60th minute, Lionel Messi opens up the play even more. He delivers a through ball into the area Tadeo Allende gets his foot on it as he strikes at a tight angle Brad Guzan comes up with the save it would only continue for Miami as Lionel Messi continued to grow into it. In the 64th minute, Lionel Messi makes an excellent run into the box He puts the ball on his right foot as he drives it towards the bottom corner Brad Guzan manages to pull it off as he makes the necessary save. It continued to be a back-and-forth battle with no answer surrounding the winner. We arrived in the final 10 minutes of the match. Still looking for a winner. In the 83rd minute, Atlanta United won themselves a free kick. Brooks Lennon puts the ball into the box Xande Silva puts his foot through the ball from inside the area but it ends up flailing off Target. In the 86th minute, Aleksey Miranchuk crossed into the box for Atlantic United Luis Abram got his head on the end of it before clashing with the opposing defense. In the 89th minute, inter Miami gets themselves a corner, pick. It is sent into the box on the delivery Fafá Picault gets on top of it as the 35-year-old who's his head through the ball past Brad Guzan as inter, Miami strikes down at the death to take a 2-1 lead. The Haitian striker who recently came off the bench has just put home the winner. As he scores his first goal in the new colors. Shortly after the referee blows the whistle as Inter Miami stays perfect on the season. Orchestrating a come-from-behind victory at Atlanta, United in front of the rowdy fans at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Although it doesn't mean much now. Inter Miami gets a bit of revenge after being knocked out by Atlanta United last season. The side from South Beach suffered in the first round of the playoffs, despite having a historic season with the most points in a single campaign in MLS history. However, that will be behind them as their primary focus is to avoid such things from happening this time. Inter Miami stays perfect with 10 points From a possible 12 to start the season. This is particularly impressive considering Lionel Messi has been in and out of the side during the first couple weeks of the season. This is only his second appearance in the league this season. They handle their business and get the job done. Despite a bit of a rocky start. Atlanta United scored the opener and then scored again in a goal that was initially wiped off. Thankfully, Lionel Messi capitalizes on a moment shortly afterward. This managed to level the scores. As Miami and Atlanta got into a tug of war a back-and-forth battle. It always seemed as if Miami was going to get it over the line. Plenty of close calls and near goal-scoring opportunities from Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez with exemplary contributions from Sergio Busquets in Midfield and Jodi Alba as the Barcelona quadruples continue to get on the same page together in Major League Soccer. They possess four Barcelona, former players that have won trophies together along with their manager, Javier Mascherano, who was also a part of those teams. However, this team is a bit deeper than just Barcelona. As many of their recent arrivals have performed well. Although Lionel Messi ended up with man of the match. It was 34-year-old Fabrice Picault who became the hero in the end. The MLS journeyman has spent time primarily with Philadelphia before bouncing around in Houston, Vancouver, Dallas & Nashville. He comes up with the big moment and takes them to the points. Enter Miami well deserving of their results. Atlanta United played well certainly well enough to possibly get something from the match, but unfortunately, their slow start continues with their second loss in their first four matches. However, I certainly have the qualities to push forward and onward however, it is the traveling visitors from South Beach that pushed through from the death to all. Ultimately take a 2-1 victory away from home. The MLS cup favorites continue as they stay unbeaten through the first couple of games of the season following a come-from-behind victory at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Atlanta.
