“Everyone expected more from us”
©IMAGO
World champion Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were surprisingly eliminated in the first playoff round of the North American MLS. The team from Florida lost the decisive third game against Atlanta United 2:3 (1:2). Miami won the first game 2-1 and lost the second game at Atlanta United 2-1.
Miami took the lead through Matías Rojas (17th), but Jamal Thiaré turned the game around for Atlanta with two goals in the first half (19th, 21st). The eight-time world footballer Messi was able to equalize again in the second half with a header (65th), but Bartosz Slisz’s header in the 76th minute to make it 3-2 was the winning goal. Brad Guzan in goal for Atlanta secured the victory with spectacular saves. Messi hit the wall of Atlanta players with two free kicks in the final minutes. Atlanta now faces Orlando City.
Miami set a league record with 74 points in the main round. Atlanta, on the other hand, only managed 40 points and only slipped into the playoffs after qualifying against CF Montreal. Miami is the financially strongest team in the MLS. Ex-Dortmunder Marco Reus confidently made it through with Los Angeles Galaxy.
Miami goalkeeper Callender disappointed: “Everyone expected more from us”
“We didn’t achieve our biggest goal,” said Miami coach Gerardo Martino. The Argentine reported on the mood of the players in the dressing room: “They are sad, as they should be when you had such high expectations.” Inter goalkeeper Drake Callender explained: “It sucks, it hurts. We wanted to offer more to the fans who have supported us throughout the year. I think we all expected more from ourselves and we felt like we could have won that game, but we didn’t.”
