Lessons learned from Atlanta United’s win over Inter Miami

The stats highlighted Atlanta United’s dominance: more shots (26-13), more shots on goal (8-6), more expected goals (3.4-0.7) and more chances created (22-12). Messi and Suarez combined for a goal and seven shots, including three on goal.

“We were missing one more piece of equipment compared to Atlanta, and that was evident in the first half and during the second half,” said Inter Miami manager Gerardo Martino, who led Atlanta United to the MLS Cup in 2018. “It was a night where the team regressed compared to the other games. I think we were very outplayed and they beat us well.

Pineda has generally preferred to use a 4-3-3 formation in which the team attempts to dominate possession in the hope that this will create more chances. The results were confusing. Before Wednesday, Atlanta United was 21st in goals scored (17), but sixth in expected goals (26.76) and eighth in shots (207). He had scored just one goal in 434 minutes and was trying to end a nine-game winless streak.

The formation change, combined with Miami’s double-edged sword of starting players forward but lacking the speed to defend against Atlanta United’s light-footed attackers, played out like the climactic battle scene in a movie.

“The coach made the decision (to change formation) and, as you saw tonight, it was perfect against this team, for this match,” said Saba Lobjanidze, scorer of the team’s first two goals. Atlanta United. In both cases, Lobjanidze had a few seconds to dribble and decide what he wanted to do before a Miami player pressured him. “I wasn’t surprised. I had a conversation with Gonzalo the other day and he told me he wanted more aggression, to be more direct with my dribbling and to show confidence with the ball. So it was nice to have that conversation and see that it worked.

Atlanta United’s defense was helped by Stian Gregersen and Derrick Williams playing together as a pair in the three-man backline, which included Luis Abram.

Due to each other’s injuries, it was the first time the two new signings started a game together since Week 3 against Orlando. Atlanta United is 3-1-0 when they start together with three goals allowed. Williams created two chances and Gregersen’s initiative to join the attack unbalanced the Miami defense.

“It’s always fantastic (to play with him),” Gregersen said. “Very good player and with him, his organizational specialty. We need everyone on the team to be competitive. And today it was a team, where it was a team effort.

Pineda said he thought Abram had his best game with Atlanta United and was impressed by Noah Cobb, who replaced Williams, stepping in and defending against Suarez and Messi.

“There were difficult moments in the match where we didn’t have enough rhythm or lost balls in the build-up, but we always had a good base of three players in defense,” Pineda said. “That was also part of the ‘why’ because I wanted to be protected in the middle during moments of transition or when they were on the ball and we blocked the middle to prevent Messi or Suarez from not having much pace. But I thought the players did well both out of possession, in possession and in transition.

All the firsts. List of firsts, or records, of the match:

It was Atlanta United’s 100th MLS victory.

Atlanta United’s first victory in 10 matches.

Atlanta United’s first road victory this season.

This is Miami’s first home loss when Messi starts since joining MLS last season.

First defeat by a club team in a match in which Messi scored since 2021 when Celta de Vigo beat Barcelona, ​​according to statistics site Opta.

Lobjanidze’s first double for Atlanta United. Lobjanidze and his partner are also expecting their first baby, a girl, in July.

Lobjanidze’s opening goal in the 44th minute was Atlanta United’s first in 268 minutes.

Atlanta United’s 26 shots were the most in a game this season.

Josh Cohen made his first start. He finished with five saves.

Caleb Wiley got his first assist this season, on Jamal Thiare’s goal.

Thiago Almada was captain for the first time.

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Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule

February 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0

March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1

March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0

March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0

March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0

April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1

April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2

April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1

April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1

May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1

May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in US Open Cup

May 11 DC United 3, Atlanta United 2

May 15 Cincinnati 1, Atlanta United 0

May 18 Atlanta United 1, Nashville 1

May 21 Atlanta United 0 (5), Charleston 0 (4) in US Open Cup

May 25 LAFC 1, Atlanta United 0

May 29 Atlanta United 3, Miami 1

June 2 vs. Charlotte, 4:30 p.m., FOX

June 15 vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m.

June 19 at DC United, 7:30 p.m.

June 22 in Saint-Louis, 8:30 p.m.

June 29 c. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

July 3 at New England, 7:30 p.m.

July 6 at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m.

July 13 in Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

July 17 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.

July 20 against Columbus, 7:30 p.m.

July 26 against DC United in the League Cup, 7:30 p.m.

August 4 against Santos Laguna in the League Cup, 4 p.m.

August 24 at LA Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.

August 31 in Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.

September 14 vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m.

September 18 against Miami, 7:30 p.m.

September 21 at the Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

September 28 in Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

October 2 c. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

October 5 against Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

October 19 in Orlando, 6 p.m.