Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba both found the net as Inter Miami secured a vital 2-1 victory over Atlanta United in their first playoff match of the 2024 MLS Cup campaign, marking the beginning of what fans hope will be a deep postseason run for the South Florida team. This game, the first in a best-of-three series, saw Inter Miami capitalize on home advantage and make a strong push toward the Eastern Conference semifinals. A win in the next game in Atlanta on November 2 would clinch their spot in the next round, cementing the team’s playoff ambitions.
The game started with intensity as Inter Miami took an early lead in just the second minute. Luis Suarez, making a significant impact since joining his former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi, scored Miami’s first goal. The sequence began with Jordi Alba finding Diego Gomez, who slipped the ball to Suarez in the box, allowing him to finish from close range with precision. This quick start set the tone, with Inter Miami controlling much of the possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities in the first half.
Despite Atlanta United’s efforts, including several saves from veteran goalkeeper Brad Guzan, they struggled to keep up with Miami’s aggressive play. Messi, Alba, and other Miami players continued to test Guzan with well-timed shots, with Messi hitting the post and midfielder David Martinez narrowly missing a goal when his header struck the upright.
Atlanta’s luck seemed to turn in the 39th minute when Saba Lobzhanidze, fed by Pedro Amador, equalized with a sharp, left-footed strike. This goal breathed life into Atlanta’s game, giving them hope of staying level and potentially pushing the game to penalties, per the MLS’s unique playoff format. However, defensive issues and unfortunate injuries, such as those to winger Brooks Lennon and defender Stian Gregersen, plagued Atlanta’s efforts.
In the 60th minute, Alba delivered the decisive blow, catching Atlanta’s defense off guard after a short corner from Messi. Given space on the edge of the box, Alba unleashed a powerful strike from 25 yards out that sailed past Guzan, marking the final goal of the night and securing Miami’s lead. Messi had a chance to add to the score in stoppage time, but Guzan managed to thwart his close-range effort.
With the win, Inter Miami have taken an essential first step toward advancing, showcasing their offensive firepower and depth despite injuries. The Suarez-Alba-Messi connection has proven formidable, and with the second game looming, Miami fans will hope to see their team maintain its momentum as they chase MLS Cup glory.
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