Without Lionel Messi, Inter Miami's 12-match unbeaten steak has come to an end in a 5-2 loss to Atlanta on Saturday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Messi and Jordi Alba were left out of the 18 to give them a chance to rest from "muscular fatigue," according to manager Tata Martino. In the early going, it didn't seem like that would cause an issue as Leonardo Campana scored one of the goals of the season following a well-threaded ball from Dixon Arroyo to put the Herons ahead 25 minutes into the match.
Only minutes later, Tristian Muyumba would score an equalizer in a controversial fashion. The ball hit the post and then was saved by Drake Callender but due to angles, it was tough to tell if the entire ball actually crossed the line to be counted as a goal. Due to MLS not having goal-line technology, it would have to be a clear and obvious error to be ruled out which can't be done properly with the naked eye.
The goal threw Miami into disarray as Atlanta United scored two goals in three minutes. Brooks Lennon scored the first and then Kamal Miller put the ball into the wrong net for the second. Even with Sergio Busquets on the pitch, no one was able to steady Miami in the moment, seeing the match get out of hand. Even with Campana getting a goal back, emotions got the best of the team with multiple scuffles and the Herons allowing two more goals to put things out of reach.
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It's a performance that shows not only what Messi brings to the attack when he features for Miami but also the steadying presence that he has over the team wearing the armband. Always knowing who they can look for as a passing outlet or to make a big play makes things much easier for the Herons on the pitch.
This loss won't be what keeps them out of MLS playoffs if Messi can make good on the rest to lead the team past Toronto FC on Wednesday but it does show Miami that they aren't invincible. It can be easy to get that feeling on a streak of consecutive victories but now Martino can go back to the drawing board to get things back on track.
Seven goals, emotion all around and a new leader in the golden boot standings. The Herons have suffered their first defeat in the Messi era although the Argentine talisman wasn't in the squad to bail them out. With Toronto midweek, all eyes will be on how Miami responds to their first setback.
Tyler Wolff scores Atlanta's latest goal in transition and this is a total domination. It may not be the Miami side that we have become used to seeing in MLS play but they'll have to prove that this is only a blip.
Campana exits and the former Atlanta United man is greeted with cheers from the stand. Forever a legend in Five Stripes history.
Miami allowed Giakoumakis into space and he won't miss open chances like that going joint top for the golden boot lead. 13 minutes still remain but that's a deflating goal for Miami's comeback.
Robert Taylor and Dixon Arroyo will exit for Ruiz and Stefanelli providing a slightly different look. It hasn't been the greatest match for Taylor so this will provide Campana and Farias with additional support.
There was a scuffle in the box following Guzan wanting to delay the restart as emotion is beginning to take over in the match.
It will be reviewed but Luis Abram is judged to have handled the ball. The penalty stands and Campana will take it.
It was a first half to forget but the Herons are only behind by two goals which is a manageable margin if Miami can adjust. Atlanta cut Miami apart in transition in the first half but if the defense can contain Atlanta's wingers, Miami's attack is still creating chances with ease.
Now it's Brooks Lennon hitting the back of the net as they've run riot with three goals in only eight minutes. While the first was a questionable one, Miami will now have a mountain to climb in the second half without being able to bring Messi off the bench to save them.
Edwin Mosquera forces Kamal Miller into an own goal after gliding past Aviles. Things were going quite well for the Herons and then in the blink of an eye, everything shifted.
No one could clearly overturn it so Atlanta has equalized for now.
It's an impressive goal from Muyumba that seems to barely cross the line. Without goalline technology, it will go to VAR but it will be hard to overturn due to how close it is.
Missing one magician, Campana showed that he can bring the magic too putting the Herons ahead 1-0 26 mintues into the match after a beautiful pass from Dixon Arroyo. Can they add to their lead before the half?
Farias was able to get into open space playing a ball to Robert Taylor but Miles Robinson was well placed to head the ball to safety. It has been a game that has relied a lot on late defensive intervention in the early going.
The teams are being introduced for a critical match.
Atlanta's defense has improved but Messi doesn't care about any team's defense. Miami will find their goals and then some. Growth is already showing in Facundo Farias, who is making it known that no team can keep the Herons from scoring, regardless of Messi being the pitch or not. Score: Atlanta United 1, Inter Miami 3
Leonardo Campana and his new contract will lead the line flanked by Farias and Taylor creating a trident that will be tough to slow. Jordi Alba also misses the 18 with Noah Allen deputizing at left back.
Starters: Callender, Allen, Miller, Aviles, Yedlin, Creamaschi, Arroyo, Busquets, Farias, Campana, Taylor
There are questions about Messi's fitness heading into the match. The first hints that he wouldn't play came from the star forward posting images of a truly hideous pizza in Miami on social media on Friday night after the team had already left for Atlanta. After feeling fatigued near the end of Argentina's match against Ecuador, Messi didn't feature against Bolivia during World Cup qualifying. Due to the many games Messi has played in short succession, it makes sense that he needed a rest and Martino has played down any injury concerns.
"He is fine, but we are going to wait until the end of training to make a decision," Martino said on if Messi would play against Atlanta United. "We will be careful with him because we have a lot of important games in a short span."
Saturday, multiple sources confirmed that Messi had not travelled with the team and therefore wouldn't be a part of the match, according to a report from the Miami Herald.
Yet again the Herons will look to keep their winning ways going. While they had some nervy moments without Messi against Sporting Kansas City, having their first choice defenders will make a difference in this clash. Facundo Farias and the forwards are able to handle scoring while Drake Callender will do his best to stop Thiago Almada from finding the back of the net.
