Lobjanidze and Atlanta United end Inter Miami’s record unbeaten streak despite Messi’s return

Lionel Messi scored Inter Miami’s only goal in a 3-1 loss to Atlanta United on Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Photo by Christobal Herrera-Ulashkevich/EPA-EFE

Herons players appeared to be playing in waterlogged cleats and sweat-weighted jerseys as they battled the South Florida humidity amid a heat advisory. Disjointed attacks fizzled throughout their defeat, as the visitors shared the ball with ease.

“The truth is that obviously we were missing a piece of equipment,” Herons manager Tata Martino told reporters in his post-match press conference.

The Five Stripes held the Herons, who lead MLS in goals, to just one shot – a Messi header – in the first 18 minutes. They dominated their favorite opponents 26-12 in 90 minutes.

Lobjanidze broke the 0-0 deadlock with his scream in the 44th minute. The forward collected the ball near midfield and carried his dribble into space while looking at the Herons’ net. He then shifted his hips and tapped the ball to the right before launching his 20-yard missile past Herons goalkeeper Drake Callender and into the upper left corner of the net.

The Five Stripes led 1-0 at halftime.

Lobjanidze scored a sensational second goal around 15 minutes into the second half. Right winger Brooks Lennon contributed to the score in the 59th minute. The midfielder exchanged a pass with Lobjanidze on the right flank, deep in Herons territory.

Lobjanidze then dribbled forward, cutting through the Herons’ last line of defense. He finished the play with a left-footed curler just inside the left post for a 2-0 lead.

Messi and the Herons continued to struggle with nasty attacks throughout the second half, but the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner managed to reduce the deficit by scoring in the 62nd minute.

Midfielder Sergio Busquets received the ball above the United box during this play. He then found Messi to his right. The Herons star dribbled to the left before putting a grounded player into the net at the far post.

The goal seemed to liven up the Herons’ vertical play, but United responded by filling their box with blue-shirted defenders. They then added an insurance goal around 10 minutes later, with Argentina’s Thiago Almada creating with his dribbling skills, leading to a score from Senegalese striker Jamal Thiare.

Almada created space with crisp touches above the box to set up that score. He then slipped a pass left to midfielder Caleb Wiley, who crossed a pass in front of the goal.

Thiare crashed into the box, firing a shot past Callender for a two-goal advantage.

The Herons (10-3-4) still have the best record in MLS. The Five Stripes improved to 4-7-4 with their first road win of the season.

The Herons will host St. Louis City SC at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday in Fort Lauderdale. Messi is also expected to play for Argentina against Ecuador on June 9 in Chicago.

The Herons are scheduled to face the Philadelphia Union on June 15 in Philadelphia. United will host Charlotte FC on Sunday at 4:45 p.m. in Atlanta.