Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s season is over after a 3-2 defeat to Atlanta United.
Messi and Miami were expected to ease into the next phase of the NLS playoffs when Atlanta ended up as their first round opponents after winning in the wild card round.
Miami ended the regular season top of the Eastern Conference and with the best record in the competition to win the Supporters Shield and for good measure added the highest points total in MLS history (74).
Miami racked up 74 points with 32 wins, 8 draws and four defeats, while Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi each scored 21 goals in a memorable season.
Atlanta were handed just a 10% chance of making the MLS Cup semi finals after coming through the first round against Montreal FC.
Those odds increased when Miami claimed the first game of the three game first round series with a 2-1 win in South Florida.
The formality of a second win was expected to follow as part of Messi’s procession to the biggest title in North America – the MLS Cup.
However Atlanta claimed the second game to set up a decider in South Beach on Saturday night and it did not end well for Miami’s expensively assembled band of all stars.
Matias Rosas put Miami in front on 17 minutes, only for Jamal Thiare to score two in three minutes to give Atlanta the lead.
Messi fired in an equalizer with 25 minutes to go, but Bartosz Slisz ended the dream of David Beckham‘s franchise with the winner on 76 minutes.
The result Miami heartbroken and beaten at the first time of asking in the Messi post-season era that was expected to deliver the biggest trophy in North America.
In the semifinals, Atlanta will now face Orlando while Miami – who won the Leagues Cup in Messi’s first season – will end the World Cup winner’s second season in disappointing fashion.
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The result was immediately described as one of the competition’s biggest shocks.
Kevin Egan, host of Apple TV’s MLS 360 coverage took to social media to express his disbelief.
“We’ve just witnessed easily the biggest upset in MLS history!” he posted on X.
“Atlanta United had a 10% chance of making the playoffs on Decision Day.
“The lowest ranked team remaining just knocked Messi and Miami out on their own turf. What?!?!”
The MLS Cup play offs continue with the Conference semifinals, before the Eastern and Western Conference champions and crowned and will meet in the final on December 7,
