The hopes of Argentina’s footballing maestro, Lionel Messi, to clinch the MLS Cup title were extinguished in a thrilling first-round showdown against Atlanta United, leaving fans in disbelief following a 3-2 defeat at home.
Since his arrival at Inter Miami in 2023, Messi’s ambition has been to secure the prestigious MLS Cup. However, that dream has been put on hold after the club’s unexpected early exit from the playoffs on Saturday.
Inter Miami, co-owned by Football icon David Beckham, had a successful regular season, finishing at the top of the table with a record points tally. But, in a stunning twist, they fell victim to an Atlanta United side that finished ninth in the Eastern Conference, crashing out of the postseason after losing twice in the best-of-three series.
Despite securing the much-coveted ‘Supporters’ Shield’ during the regular season, Miami’s performance left much to be desired. The absence of injured Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets was felt deeply as the team struggled to find rhythm in midfield. Messi and fellow former Barcelona star Luis Suarez floundered in their efforts to create scoring opportunities amidst a lack of proper service.
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The final whistle brought a wave of silence across Chase Stadium, a venue that had harbored hopes of celebrating Miami’s first MLS Cup title. Instead, it was Atlanta’s goalkeeper Brad Guzan and his teammates reveling in the victory, a stark reminder of the harsh realities of knockout football.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino, who has previous experience winning the MLS Cup with Atlanta in 2018, will undoubtedly face scrutiny over the team’s performance. Trying to salvage some positives, Martino reflected on the season’s journey, stating, “This season has had its ups and downs. Considering where we were last November, there’s been tangible progress for the club, not just the team. Nevertheless, the expectations we had for this playoffs were indeed higher, and we fell short.”
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Looking ahead, Atlanta United will square off against Orlando in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, while the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC prepare for their own face-off in the other conference semi.
