Holders of the best season of the regular season, the Florida team comes back from 3-2 and sees their opponents close the best-of-three series 2-1
Inter Miami, holders of the best season of the regular season, did not make the most of their home advantage and were eliminated from the MLS. This Saturday (9), the team led by star Lionel Messi lost again against Atlanta United, this time 3-2 at Chase Stadium, in Fort Lauderdale, for Game 3 of the round of 16 of the playoffs. The series thus ended 2-1 in favor of the guests.
The Florida team, which broke the American League scoring record, started out ahead by winning Game 1 2-1, in Miami. But Atlanta United, playing at home, came back and triumphed by the same score in Game 2.
Atlanta United will face Orlando City in the quarterfinals. The first clash will take place on November 21st, a Thursday, at 9pm (Brasilia time).
The game
With the advantage of hosting the decisive duel, Inter Miami took the lead in the 17th minute, when Matías Rojas (formerly Corinthians) received a rebound from goalkeeper Guzan after a shot by Messi in the area. The celebration, however, did not last long. This is because Atlanta only needed three minutes to overturn the result with Jamal Thiare’s brace. In the 21st minute he was the first to finish from the edge of the area to fill the net. Then, he received a pass from Aleksey Miranchuk inside the box and finished it with no escape to Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender.
Diego Gomez even found the net for the home side, but his team-mates ended their celebrations when referee Allen Chapman flagged a VAR review. The goal was later disallowed for offside at the origin of the action.
After the break, Inter Miami returned ready to qualify and created opportunities. In the 7th minute Luis Suárez forces Guzan into a great save. But the draw was not long in coming. In the 20th minute, Lionel Messi started the action and appeared in the area to head Weigandt’s cross. When it seemed that Inter’s winning goal was only a matter of time, Atlanta did it again.
In the 31st minute Bartosz Slisz got up from a corner and headed past Callender from close range. The final stretch saw strong pressure from the Florida team, who pressed until the last moment. But the effort had no effect. Thus, the zebra crossed Fort Lauderdale and the team of the Argentine star remained in its path.
The MLS Playoffs
Eight teams from each of the Eastern and Western conferences qualified for the playoffs. These, in turn, faced each other in the first round, based on their positions in the regular season. It is therefore a best of three, without goal difference or number of points. Only victories count and, therefore, whoever wins twice advances to the next stage. Therefore, any match that ends in a draw goes to penalties.
The semifinals of each conference will be a single game led by the team with the best championship. Whoever qualifies will advance to the conference final, even in a single match at the home of whoever did better than their rival. The two conference winners will face each other in the MLS Cup, the decision will be made in a single clash with the team with the best season in office.
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Source: Terra
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