The MLS Cup Playoffs continue with a trio of quality games Saturday evening, including Inter Miami’s showdown with Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Here is what has gone down so far.
Scorers: Williams 58′, Silva 90+5′; Martínez 40′
Atlanta United have stunned Inter Miami thanks to a stoppage time rocket to force a third game in the series.
The Five Stripes made a great start in the opening half-hour in front of a raucous crowd of over 68,000. Yet their bright start was undone in disastrous fashion when Brad Guzan somehow gave the ball away when trying to kick it long, allowing Inter Miami to score in an empty goal.
The Five Stripes did not drop their heads however, coming out after the break with a bit more energy, and they eventually found the equalizer thanks to a superb Derrick Williams header just before the hour-mark.
Miami switched gears after getting pulled back however, creating a flurry of chances that needed some frankly heroic defending in front of Brad Guzan.
Despite that, the best chance to win it and avoid penalties fell to Saba Lobzhanidze, but the Atlanta man rang his shot off of the crossbar in the dying minutes.
Just as the game appeared to fizzle out, Atlanta cut through the wide open Miami defense and Xande Silva fired a rocket into the top corner to deliver a late win for the hosts.
The series will now head back to Miami for a third and final game in the series — the winner will move on.
Scorers: Martínez 22′, Martins 40′, Rodríguez 90+7′ (P) ; Orellano 65′
NYCFC forced a decisive third match with a huge win against FC Cincinnati at Citi Field Saturday evening.
Cincinnati looked back to their brilliant and solid best in the first match between the two Eastern Conference foes, but they were under the cosh early on in Queens, and found themselves 2-0 down at the break after a lovely team goal capped off by Alonso Martínez, and a headed effort by Thiago Martins.
While NYCFC poured forward to find a third and game-killing goal, Cincinnati pulled one back through a frankly stunning Luca Orellano strike, who nutmegged an NYCFC defender before finding the top-corner.
The visitors did create a bundle of late chances to pull level but some heroic goalkeeping by Matt Freese, and a late Santiago Rodríguez penalty ensured the Pigeons held on to send the series back to Cincinnati.
Check back later for updates from around the grounds
???? Todd Kirkland – 2024 Getty Images
Morocco
