Atlanta United thrashed Inter Miami 5-2 in MLS on Saturday, with the visitors without Lionel Messi. The Five Stripes were dominant throughout, taking a 3-0 lead into half-time thanks to goals from Tristan Muyumba, Brooks Lennon, and an own goal. Giorgos Giakoumakis and Tyler Wolff added further goals in the second half to seal a comfortable victory.
Miami pulled back two consolation goals through Robbie Robinson and Gonzalo Higuain, but it was too little too late. The defeat was Inter Miami’s first since Messi joined the club in July, and it leaves them in 14th place in the Eastern Conference.
Atlanta United Dominate in First Half vs Inter Miami:
Atlanta United started the game brightly and took the lead in the 15th minute through Tristan Muyumba. The young midfielder picked up the ball on the edge of the box and curled a beautiful shot into the top corner.
Atlanta United doubled their lead in the 25th minute through Brooks Lennon. Lennon picked up the ball on the right wing and cut inside before firing a shot into the bottom corner.
Miami had a few chances to get back into the game, but they were unable to beat Atlanta United goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
Atlanta United extended their lead to 3-0 in the 42nd minute through an own goal. Miami defender Damion Lowe tried to clear a cross from Lennon, but he inadvertently put the ball into his own net.
Atlanta United Add More Goals in the Second Half vs Inter Miami:
Atlanta United continued to dominate in the second half and added two more goals to their lead.
Giorgos Giakoumakis scored the first goal in the 55th minute. The Greek striker headed home a cross from Luiz Araújo to make it 4-0.
Tyler Wolff added the fifth goal in the 75th minute. The American forward picked up the ball on the edge of the box and curled a shot into the top corner.
Miami pulled back two consolation goals in the final 10 minutes of the game. Robbie Robinson scored the first in the 80th minute, and Gonzalo Higuain scored the second in the 85th minute.
However, it was too little too late for Miami, and Atlanta United claimed a comfortable 5-2 victory.
Conclusion:
Atlanta United’s victory was a deserved one, and they were clearly the better team on the day. Inter Miami was without Lionel Messi, and his absence was keenly felt.
Atlanta United are now in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, while Inter Miami remain in 14th place.
Analysis:
Atlanta United’s victory was a sign of their progress under manager Gonzalo Pineda. The Five Stripes have been one of the most inconsistent teams in MLS in recent years, but they have shown signs of promise under Pineda.
Atlanta United’s performance against Inter Miami was particularly impressive, as they were able to dominate a team that has Lionel Messi in their ranks.
Inter Miami’s defeat will be a concern for manager Phil Neville. The Herons have been unable to find any consistency since Messi joined the club, and they are now in danger of missing out on the playoffs.
Impact of Lionel Messi’s Absence:
Lionel Messi’s absence was a major blow for Inter Miami. The Argentine superstar is one of the best players in the world, and his presence on the pitch makes Miami a much better team.
Without Messi, Miami were unable to create as many chances as they would have liked. They also struggled to defend against Atlanta United’s attack.
Messi’s absence was particularly evident in the first half when Atlanta United scored three goals. Miami was unable to cope with Atlanta United’s attacking pressure, and they were punished for their mistakes.
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