Messi scores, but Inter Miami ousted from playoffs after 3-2 loss to Atlanta United

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — This is not how it was supposed to end, with Lionel Messi and the top-seeded Inter Miami exiting the MLS playoffs in the first round. But that is what happened on a Saturday night that left the home crowd at Chase Stadium stunned and silent.

All the pressure was on Messi and Inter Miami as they tried to keep their historic season alive, but they were ousted by Atlanta, 3-2.

Miami had tied the game earlier in the half when Messi came to the rescue and ignited Chase Stadium with energy. The Argentine scored the equalizer with a rare header at the 65-minute mark off a perfect short cross from fellow Argentine Marcelo Weigandt.

But upset-minded and unintimidated Atlanta United retook the lead in the 76th minute on a header by Bartosz Slisz as Inter Miami defender Tomas Aviles watched from the ground in the box, after going down about a minute earlier. Miami players were asking the referee to stop play to no avail as Slisz’s shot hit the back post. Aviles was then replaced by Sergio Busquets.

Inter Miami, the top seed and highest-paid team in MLS, faced a decisive Game 3 against ninth-seeded wild card Atlanta, which advances to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where it will face Orlando City, which beat Charlotte FC in penalty kicks earlier Saturday.

Emotions were high as a near-sellout crowd tried to will Inter Miami to victory. The fans erupted when midfielder Matias Rojas scored in the 17th minute to give Miami a 1-0 lead. Messi got the play started with a pass to Diego Gomez, who took a shot on target, which was saved by Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Rojas was ready for the rebound, and knocked it in from the right side.

The crowd was still celebrating two minutes later when Atlanta’s Senegalese forward Jamal Thiare tied it up 1-1 after receiving the ball uncovered, slipping past defender David Martinez, and launching a half-volley past Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender.

Inter Miami barely had time to recover from the equalizer when Thiare struck again two minutes later to give the visitors a 2-1 lead and quiet the stadium. Atlanta took advantage of a Miami turnover at midfield and capitalized.

Gomez seemed to score a tying goal for Miami a few minutes later, injecting life into Inter Miami, but it was waved off for offside and Atlanta remained ahead at halftime.

A Miami first-round exit is a shocking and a huge disappointment for a team had the best record over course of the 34-game season with 22 wins, four losses and eight ties. Inter Miami boasts the most expensive payroll in the league by far at $41.7 million, and the roster includes Messi and his former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Busquets and Jordi Alba.

Nevertheless, Atlanta made things difficult for Miami all season.

Inter Miami had played Atlanta four times this year, and won just once, 2-1 in the playoff opener at home. Atlanta beat Miami 3-1 back in May, they tied 2-2 in September, and Atlanta stunned Miami on Saturday to force Game 3 with an extra-time game winner by Xande Silva before a crowd of 68,455 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Messi, who had back-to-back hat tricks for Argentina and Inter Miami in the two games preceding the playoffs, was held scoreless by Atlanta in Games 1 and 2 and the first half of Game 3.

Miami dominated possession 62% to 38% after 55 minutes and had taken 11 shots to three for Atlanta, including four shots on goal to two. And yet, Atlanta was in the lead.