Atlanta United 5-2 Inter Miami: summary, score, goals, MLS
Atlanta United - Inter Miami: as it happened
The first taste of defeat for Inter Miami in the Leo Messi era and Atlanta United were good value for their win with an inspired Thiago Almada at the heart of the 5 Stripes positive play.
Inter Miami looked tired and now face a mammoth task in trying to secure a playoff place as they face seven games in the space of 21 days.
The whistle sounds and Atlanta record a famous win with five goals.
Miami remain rooted at 14th place in the Eastern Conference.
Seven minutes of added time.
Great finish from the sub but the goal was gifted by Miller who passes the ball to Saba Lobzhanidze who slots Woolf in and the finish was sublime.
Stefanelli carded
Stefanelli almost pulls one back for Miami as the Argentine drills wide.
Josef Martinez and Krystov on for Inter Miami
Campana and Aviles, the players making way
Silva off and Woolf his replacement
Miguel on for goalscorer Giorgos Giakoumakis
A real uphill task now for Miami as they trail by two goals again.
Giorgos Giakoumakis gets his 14th of the MLS season after great work from Silva and Almada.
The final ball was from the Georgian sub and possibly offside from the Greek striker?
Quarter of an hour remain and Inter Miami with just 15 minutes to salvage a point.
Robinson on for Cremaschi
Lobzhanidze on for Mosquera
Giorgos Giakoumakis, who has been quiet tonight gets on the ball in the box but drills the ball into the side netting.
Saba Lobzhanidze set to come in for Atlanta.
Just 20 minutes left in Atlanta.
Great work from Silva as he nutmegs a Miami player and fails to deliver with a poor finish.
Changes for Miami
Stefanelli on for Taylor
Ruiz on Arroyo
Inter Miami have lost direction slightly as Atlanta now enjoy a spell of dominance.
It really is not Cremaschi's night as the young Miami player blazes over from just outside the box.
Inter Miami poised to make a switch.
Approaching the hour martk and Almada is selfish and could have passed but opts to go alone and is hounded out.
Farias carded for Miami.
The game is really alive now with tension flaring across the pitch.
Game on !
Campana to take the spot kick.
The No. 9 casually sends the keeper the wrong way and makes it 2-3.
Abram carded for the handball.
Handball for Miami and the Herons are afforded a wonderful chance to get back into the game,
Inter Miami need Busquets to get into this game.
A defeat for Inter Miami would be a major setback in their quest to secure a place in the playoffs.
Inter Miami are on a 12 game unbeaten run and could be staring at a defeat for the first time since Messi, Busquets and Alba joined the side from South Florida.
Inter Miami get the second half underway.
The teams are back on the pitch as the second half looms.
A big, big test ahead for Tata Martino as his side trail at the interval.
It's been a discreet performance from the Herons who took the lead following some sublime skill from Campana but three goals in quick succession saw the home side bounce back in emphatic fashion and as things stand Gonzalo Pineda is outfoxing Martino in the tactical battle.
The whistle sounds and it's the 5 Stripes whio lead after trailing.
Almada clipped and wins a free. The young Argentine grabs the ball and sets his sights on goal.
The ball clips the wall and it's a corner.
5 minutes of additional time.
Three goals in ten minutes from the 5 Stripes and on the cusp of the break, are Miami on the point of tasting defeat for the first time in 13 games.
Into the final minute of the half.
Great response from the home side.
A degree of fortune but the 72,000 fans at the Mercedes Benz Stadium don't care as Xande Silva is positive and his cross clips Miller and ends up in the back of the net.
VAR both looking at reruns as there seems to be confusion.
The goal stands and we're level.
A bit of confusion if the ball crossed the line or not.
No goal line technology in MLS but it does appear that the ball just crosses the line.
Ten minutes left in the half and Atlanta United look for a way to get a foothold back in the game.
The Mercedes Benz has gone very quiet after the Campana goal.
Muyumba carded as he scythes into Cremaschi and is lucky to just get away with the yellow.
That could have been a red.
Atlanta United looking a little rattled now as Inter Miami now start to play with an added level of confidence.
Pure skill from the striker as he jinks the ball and dinks it over the opponents and then drills home with a sublime volley.
Xande Silva has looked excellent for the home side tonight with the Porto born player on loan
Atlanta not giving the Inter Miami central players any time on the bell with a high intensity press on the men in pink.
Giakoumakis has a go with a spectacular overhead and the ball is deflected wide for a corner.
Atlanta's Almada really does look the finished article despite his young age and is at the heart of everything good that the 5 stripes do.
Cremaschi has yet to win a ball for Inter Miami with the player giving every ball away so far.
Inter Miami, as things stand are second best.
Farias almost scoops the ball into the path of Taylor but Guzan is alert and gathers,
We've yet to see Cremaschi, Busquets or Taylor get into the fame so far.
Atlanta starting to dominate now as the side in pink are pegged back.
Still neither keeper called upon with just the half chance from Farias for Inter Miami.
Mosquera has an effort from long range but his shot is a poor daisy cutter which trickles wide.
Despite the packed house at the Mercedes Benz, the atmpsphere is a little subdued.
First corner of the night falls to the home side and the ball falls to new recruit Trystan Muyumba.
Farias has the first chance of the night as he swivels but just screws the ball wide of Guzan's goal.
A very patient start from both sides. Inter Miami moving the ball around patiently with Atlanta sitting deeper.
All set at a raucous Mercedes Benz.
Atlanta start the action.
Match 32
This is the full slate of MLS games being played this weekend as part of matchday 32 in the 2023 regular season.
Inter Miami on a 12 game unbeaten run !
The teams take to the pitch.
Inter Miami in all pink. Atlanta United in their red and black striped shirts with black shorts.
Messi looking to remain in the groove after Sporting KC win.
The Herons were in action last Saturday and with 9 key players missing, still managed to get the win with a 3-2 win.
Wonderful scene at the Mercedes Benz Stadium with a packed house tonight.
A riot of black and red at the ground.
20 minutes to go with kick-off now confirmed for 5:10 pm (ET). Ten minutes later than the originally scheduled time.
Martinez and Almada joke pre game
It will be a nostalgic evening for Josef Martinez as the striker returns to the city and stadium where he (and Inter Miami manager Martino) won MLS Cup in 2018.
Third Atlanta-Miami meeting in 2023
The first two matches for the 5 Stripes against Inter Miami did not go the way Atlanta had hoped as Atlanta lost 2-1 in a regular season match in May, and then the side from Georgia fell 4-0 to Miami in their Leagues Cup opener in July.
Both Messi and Alba out
Tata Martino's team has been confirmed for the clash in Atlanta. No Messi or Alba with the focus falling on Leo Campana with the Ecuadorian striker renewing his deal with the Herons earlier this week.
ATL UTD XI
Gonzalo Pineda picks a strong XI for the visit of the side from Florida with Greek striker Giakoumakis looking to add to his 13 goals for the 2023 MLS regular season.
Despite the Messi effect, Inter Miami still face a stern task to secure a playoff place and with just six games left, each point for Tata Martino's men is gold dust.
The 5 Stripes sitting pretty in sixth place with the top 7 getting fast tracked into the playoffs with 8/9th teams having a play in round.
ATL UTD-MIA
KO time global checklist
Where are you tuning in from ?
The 5 Stripes Twitter (X) account has got you covered.
72,000 expected at Mercedes Benz Stadium
A packed house in downtown Atlanta with no doubt many fans downhearted that they won't get to see Messi at close quarters.
Irrespective of the Argentine's absence, there is a massive game coming up with the 5 Stripes looking to cement a place in the playoffs and Inter Miami desperate for every available point with the Herons penultimate in the East.
Inter Miami: recent results
9 September: Inter Miami 3-2 Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
4 September: LAFC 1-3 Inter Miami (MLS)
31 August: Inter Miami 0-0 Nashville SC (MLS)
27 August: New York Red Bulls 0-2 Inter Miami (MLS)
24 August: FC Cincinnati 3-3 Inter Miami (US Open Cup)
Atlanta United: recent results
3 September: Dallas 2-2 Atlanta United (MLS)
31 August: Atlanta United 1-2 FC Cincinnati (MLS)
27 August: Atlanta United 4-0 Nashville SC (MLS)
21 August: Seattle Sounders 0-2 Atlanta United (MLS)
30 July: Cruz Azul 1-1 Atlanta United (Leagues Cup)
Inter Miami to sport iconic pink
The pink Inter Miami shirts are ready in the visitors dressing room with the distinctive shirt now being spotted in high streets across the world, invariably with the No. 10 number and Messi name emblazoned.
Atlanta United are a team too packed full of talent with Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis a natural goal getter and Thiago Almada the heartbeat of the 5 Stripes.
Despite the news that Messi hasn't travelled to Georgia today, there is still plenty of talent at Inter Miami's disposal with all eyes on Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Martinez, Campana and co.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Atlanta United vs Inter Miami MLS clash from the Mercedes Benz Stadium.