Messi’s First MLS Goal and Inter Miami’s Dramatic Late Win!|
Inter Miami CF beat Atlanta United FC in a dramatic late 2-1 on Sunday, with Lionel Messi scoring his first goal of the MLS regular season and substitute Fafa Picault giving the team the win with the winning goal in the 89th minute.Miami (3-1-0) won the match despite six saves by Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Guzan played a major role in defeating Messi’s team in a best-of-three series in the opening round of the MLS Cup playoffs last fall. Atlanta knocked Supporters Shield winners Miami out of the playoffs with a 30-2 win.
Messi scored his goal in the 20th minute, his only second appearance in the MLS regular season. Messi started the match after missing three matches due to muscle fatigue and coming on as a substitute in Thursday’s 2-0 win against Jamaica’s Cavaliers FC.
After the match, Miami manager Javier Mascherano said about Messi’s goal, “Leo’s goal… what more can one say about him, who is the best player in the history of this sport. He has the ability to score goals like you have never seen before. Fafa’s goal made us very happy for him. We have gone through 3 difficult weeks, because who was out. We are very happy.”
Messi used his experience against Atlanta and worked with the team in a humble way. Mascherano also defended Messi’s early season use.
Atlanta took the first lead in the 11th minute with a goal from Emmanuel Latté Lath, his third goal of the season. But Atlanta’s other players have only scored one goal so far, and their winless run has reached 3 matches.
Both teams had many chances to win in the second half, but Picault decided the match with an unlikely header. Jordi Alba sent the ball wide from a corner kick and Picault beat Ajani Fortune to score with a header which wrong-footed Guzan into the net. It was Picault’s first goal for his 6th MLS club.
Atlanta launched an attack through Miguel Almiron with Brooks Lennon scoring an excellent cross from the right and Latte Lath scoring with a powerful header. Latte Lath had a second goal after the 15th minute but it was disallowed for offside. Miami equalised through Messi in the next attack. Messi took the ball from Atlanta midfielder Bartosz Slisz, beat Derrick Williams and chipped Gazan.
Mascherano also praised the growing quality of MLS. He said, “I paid a lot of attention to Inter Miami, but I was very surprised by this league and the level of its players. Some players can even play in European leagues. I like this league, its organization and its way of working.”
Atlanta United will now play against FC Cincinnati, while Inter Miami will play at home against Philadelphia Union on March 29.
