Messi’s Magic and Picault’s Late Heroics Propel Inter Miami to Victory Over Atlanta United
In a thrilling encounter that had fans on the edge of their seats, Inter Miami CF pulled off a dramatic 2-1 victory against Atlanta United FC on Sunday. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with substitute Fafà Picault scoring a crucial goal in the 89th minute, and the legendary Lionel Messi finding the back of the net for the first time in the MLS regular season.
Inter Miami, boasting a record of 3-1-0, managed to secure the win despite a stellar performance from Atlanta’s goalkeeper, Brad Guzan, who made six crucial saves. Guzan’s efforts were reminiscent of his integral role in Atlanta’s playoff upset of Miami last fall, where they eliminated the Supporters’ Shield winners in a best-of-three series.
Messi’s goal, which came in the 20th minute, was a testament to his unparalleled skill and determination. This was only his second regular season appearance for Miami, as the team has already played eight matches due to Concacaf Champions Cup commitments. The World Cup winner had been sidelined for three games due to muscle fatigue but made a triumphant return, starting the game after coming off the bench in a 2-0 win at Cavalier FC of Jamaica.
After the match, Miami manager Javier Mascherano couldn’t contain his admiration for Messi, stating, “Well, Leo’s goal, he’s the best player in the history of this sport, there’s nothing more to say. He’s a player who has the ability to score the most beautiful [goal] you can see. The goal from Fafa obviously makes us very happy for him. We came from three hard weeks because he had been out. We’re very happy.”
Mascherano also praised Messi’s humility and teamwork, adding, “He’s come to contribute his experience in this league. But he’s been humble, working as a team, knowing to use the moments when we need it. So we are delighted with him.”
The decision to start Messi came after Mascherano defended the usage of his star player early in the season, ensuring that Messi’s fitness was prioritized.
On the other side of the pitch, Emmanuel Latte Lath gave Atlanta an early lead in the 11th minute with his third goal of the season. However, his teammates struggled to find the net, and Atlanta’s winless streak extended to three matches after their season-opening victory against Montreal.
The second half was a flurry of opportunities for both teams, but it was Picault who emerged as the unlikely hero. In the dying moments of the game, Jordi Alba delivered a perfectly placed outswinging ball from a short corner kick. Picault, showing incredible determination, outmuscled Ajani Fortune and sent a header bouncing back across goal, leaving Guzan wrong-footed and securing the win for Miami.
This marked Picault’s first goal for his sixth MLS club, having joined Miami from Vancouver in the offseason. The goal was a testament to his adaptability and skill, proving to be a valuable asset for Miami.
The match also saw Miguel Almirón orchestrating Atlanta’s attack, setting up Brooks Lennon with a brilliant ball over the top. Lennon then delivered an excellent cross that Latte Lath met with a powerful header past Rocco Ríos Novo.
Latte Lath nearly doubled his tally shortly after, but his effort was ruled offside. Miami capitalized on their next opportunity, with Messi showcasing his defensive prowess by dispossessing Bartosz Slisz and weaving past defenders to score a stunning goal.
Mascherano expressed his appreciation for the growth of MLS, stating, “I paid a lot of attention to Inter-Miami because the reality is that, like all Argentines, we followed Inter Miami but I wasn’t paying attention to other teams, which surprised me. There are many teams that have very good ideas that execute very well. I started to meet players who have a high, good level, who are in this league but who could also be in a European league. In fact, I think we have some of our players who I didn’t pay so much attention to before, perhaps, because we didn’t know them and now, the truth is, they have surprised me.”
He continued, “It’s a league that I like. I like its organization. I like that everything works. I like that I have to worry about training the team and preparing for games.”
Looking ahead, Atlanta United will face FC Cincinnati on the road this Saturday, while Inter Miami will have a break until they host the Philadelphia Union on March 29.
Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this story.
Originally Written by: ESPN News Services
