Atlanta shocks favorites Miami to reach MLS semis
LIONEL MESSI’S first trip to the Major League Soccer (MLS) postseason ended abruptly on Saturday, as midfielder Bartosz Slisz headed in the game-winner for Atlanta United in a staggering, 3-2 upset over Inter Miami in Round One. Forward Jamal Thiare got Atlanta on the board in the 19th minute and struck again two minutes later, […]
Tomas Kauer 
LIONEL MESSI’S first trip to the Major League Soccer (MLS) postseason ended abruptly on Saturday, as midfielder Bartosz Slisz headed in the game-winner for Atlanta United in a staggering, 3-2 upset over Inter Miami in Round One.
Forward Jamal Thiare got Atlanta on the board in the 19th minute and struck again two minutes later, before Slisz put them over the top in the 76th minute to set up a meeting in the semifinal stage against Orlando City SC.
Miami were overwhelming favorites to win it all after producing a league record 74 points in the regular season but could not keep the momentum after Matias Rojas’ close-range goal in the 17th minute and Messi’s score in the 65th minute.
“There’s some fairy dust in our locker room,” said Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who held his ground against Miami’s unrelenting offense. “On to the next one.”
A sea of pink-clad Miami fans held their breath as Thiare hit the woodwork in the 15th minute and Atlanta applied the pressure out of the gate.
Guzan made a diving leap to stop Messi’s powerful shot from the center of the box in the 17th minute but could not recover in time to stop Rojas’ follow-up from close range, as Miami drew first blood.
