Atlanta United Inter Miami
After nine games without a win, Atlanta United returned to winning ways in exciting fashion. With a resounding 3-1 victory, they defeated current Eastern Conference leaders Inter Miami FC and recorded the 100th victory in club history.
“For me, this was a great sign of the great mentality of our team,” head coach Gonzalo Pineda said in the post-match press conference. “But on the other hand it’s a treat for our fans. What I really appreciated today was that the corner near the back of the goal was filled with fans. They’re here to motivate the players.”
In the early stages, Atlanta United tried to disrupt Miami’s formation, as Miami boasts the third-highest possession in the league. The Five Stripes created some early chances in the final third. Brooks Lennon shot from the right side of the penalty area in the 10th minute, but it just missed the left side of the goal.
Josh Cohen, making his MLS debut for Atlanta, had a diving shot deflected in the 20th minute, but it was also ruled offside. Atlanta’s set pieces were perilous in the principal half. In the 30th minute, Jamal Teare and Derrick Williams had chances to score from a corner kick taken directly inside the penalty area.
The first half started in the same way. Thiago Almada, who was wearing the captain’s armband for the game, had a good opportunity with a shot from the right side of the penalty area. Atlanta was able to dominate the game despite having less possession. The three center backs, Stian Gregersen, Derrick Williams and Lewis Abram, helped deny Miami chances.
Atlanta took the lead in the 44th minute with a rocket shot from Sava Lobzhanidze. Atlanta went on the offensive after winning possession in midfield. Tristan Muyimba passed the ball to Lobzhanidze, who quickly advanced the ball, giving Miami no time to organize defensively. Lobzhanidze scored the goal with a shot from a central position just outside the penalty area.
Lobzhanidze nearly extended Atlanta’s lead with two minutes of first-half added time. A break in the middle, but the shot was blocked and went over the net. Atlanta United finished the first half with a goal and a lead, which was what the Five Stripes were looking for at this stage of the game.
Atlanta United continued
Atlanta United continued to play well into the second half. The Five Stripes‘ breakthrough began with more turnovers by Miami. With support from Almada and Brooke Lennon, Lobzhanidze scored her second goal of the night in the 59th minute. After holding on to the ball tenaciously, he took a shot from a central position just outside the penalty area.
“I wasn’t surprised,” Lobzhanidze told reporters after the match when asked about his ability to be unstoppable on the ball. “I spoke to Gonzalo (Pineda) and he wanted me to dribble the ball more aggressively, so it was good to be able to show that after our conversation.”
Atlanta dominated for much of the game, but Lionel Messi struck back in the 62nd minute with a shot from the right. With one touch, the ball went flat over Cohen. The Five Stripes were able to bounce back quickly after conceding the goal. The club wanted to better control the moments following the goal. Lobzhanidze almost completed his hat trick with a shot from a central position outside the penalty area. Just 11 minutes after Messi’s goal, Atlanta restored their two-goal lead.
After some quick work by Almada on the edge of the penalty area, the ball was passed to home-grown player Caleb Wiley, who fed a pass into the six-yard box for Tiare to put in the goal. After the goal, both Atlanta and Miami made substitutions in the 74th minute. Noah Cobb replaced Derrick Williams and Edwin Mosquera replaced Sava Lobzhanidze. Leonardo Campana replaced Robert Taylor for Miami.
Atlanta United looked to add to their lead. Mosquera shot wide from the right wing in the final third. Tyea attempted a shot himself, but it was blocked just outside the penalty area. Giorgos Giakoumakis and Jay Fortune came on in the 83rd minute for Jamal Teare and Dax McCarty, respectively. Atlanta’s final substitution of the night, Ronald Hernandez, came on in the 89th minute for Thiago Almada.
In the seven minutes of added time, the Five Stripes killed time by playing from a little further away. Miami managed to create a few chances, but Atlanta won a long-awaited victory in dominant style. “Assuming we win, we win together,” Lovjanidze said. “If we lose, we lose together. I know sometimes you need those games, but then your confidence and your mentality will come back.”
Match Stats
| Inter Miami FC | Atlanta United | |
| Shots | 13 | 26 |
| Shots on target | 6 | 8 |
| Corner kicks | 4 | 5 |
| Fouls committed | 11 | 7 |
| xG | 0.7 | 3.4 |
| Possession | 56.2% | 43.8% |
| Passing Accuracy | 91% | 83.3% |
UP NEXT – Home Sweet Home
Atlanta United will be back at home for the first match of June. On Sunday, June 2, they will face off against Charlotte FC. It is an earlier kickoff at 4:30 p.m. Fans can catch all the action on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, as well as on Fox. They can also listen on local radio 92.9 The Game (English) and La Mejor (Spanish).
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Wow amazing game played between them
good for gameing.