Messi scores, but Inter Miami’s 10-match MLS unbeaten streak ends with 3-1 loss to Atlanta United

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi scored Again. It was Inter Miami’s only real highlight, as its 10-game Major League Soccer winning streak was snapped by an Atlanta United team that earned its first league victory in nearly two months.

Saba Lobjanidze scored a goal in each half, Jamal Thiaré helped put the game away with a 73rd-minute goal and Atlanta United ended a nine-game MLS winless streak with a victory 3-1 Wednesday evening.

Atlanta United was 0-5-4 in MLS since its 3-0 victory over Chicago on March 31. But he never trailed on Wednesday, with Lobjanidze scoring late in the first half to put his side in the lead and adding the second in the 59th minute. . After Messi’s score, Atlanta United kept all 10 outfield players on defense whenever the hosts had deep possession in the final 30 minutes.

Messi scored his 11th goal of the MLS season, tying Luis Suarez for the team lead. Inter Miami (10-3-4, 34 points) maintained a one-point lead at the top of the Eastern Conference and the general MLS standings over Cincinnati (10-3-3, 33 points). Cincinnati lost to Nashville on Wednesday night, missing a chance to take first place.

“We were missing one piece of equipment,” Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said through an interpreter.

Inter Miami entered Wednesday with a 7-0-3 record in their last 10 MLS matches. He is now 10-0-4 when allowing two or fewer goals in MLS this season – and 0-3-0 when allowing three or more goals.

“I would say it was a night where the team took a step back compared to the other games,” Martino said.

So Wednesday was a dud. However, the first half of the season went largely as expected.

With 34 points over exactly half the MLS schedule – matching his total from the entire 2023 season, when Messi joined midway and helped the team win the Leagues Cup but didn’t was able to qualify for the playoffs – Inter Miami is on track for 68 points this season.

Mathematically, yes, that is correct.

Actually, well, probably not so much.

The plan, for now, calls for Messi to play at least a few minutes when Inter Miami hosts St. Louis on Saturday. After that, Messi will swap Inter Miami’s pink jersey for Argentina’s blue – playing a bit for country rather than club.

The Copa América – the 16-team tournament which runs from June 20 to July 14 – looms, with Messi set to play for defending champions Argentina and Suarez having the option to play for Uruguay. They could miss MLS games when Inter Miami plays Philadelphia (June 15), Columbus (June 19), Nashville (June 29), Charlotte (July 3) and Cincinnati (July 6). After the Copa América final, Miami will also play home matches against Toronto (July 17) and Chicago (July 20).

Unlike most leagues, MLS schedules matches during certain FIFA match periods, when the release of players to national teams is mandatory. And after the Copa, it would seem likely that Inter Miami will lose some players again when the national teams call for the Paris Olympics.

Messi had a few early opportunities, including a diving header about four minutes into the match off a chip in the middle of the box from Jordi Alba. Messi, rejecting a contact, sent the ball into the grass and the carom spun over the crossbar; he gave Alba a thumbs up for the idea as he got up from the grass with a smile.

And in the 21st minute, Messi sent a shot towards the left post – just above a leaping Robert Taylor, who would have had plenty of net to aim for had he been able to attempt a header.

His goal in the 63rd minute was a typical Messi masterpiece, threading a ball between two defenders and just inside the right post, barely out of the reach of a diving Atlanta goalkeeper Josh Cohen.

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