Atlanta United scored a dramatic 2-1 playoff victory over Inter Miami on Saturday, reviving Lionel Messi's hopes of leading the Florida club to MLS Cup glory.
Atlanta United scored a dramatic 2-1 playoff victory over Inter Miami on Saturday, reviving Lionel Messi's hopes of leading the Florida club to MLS Cup glory. The Portuguese wing is next Saturday. Miami, 2-1 winners in last week's opener, looked poised for a series victory after taking the lead through Paraguayan David Martinez in the 40th minute following a horrific error by former US goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
Guzan could only watch in horror as he failed a routine clearance from his penalty area, allowing Federico Redondo to win the ball back and center a pass to Martinez, who finished into the empty net for 1-0. But Atlanta launched a furious second-half attack as they battled to save their season and were rewarded when Derrick Williams headed in a 58th-minute equalizer.
End-to-end play saw both teams create chances later and Georgia's Saba Lobjanidze almost scored for Atlanta in the 89th minute, but his shot was deflected into the frame by Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender.
The game looked set to go to penalties when Atlanta launched a last-ditch effort on the Miami goal, and when Aleksey Miranchuk found Silva, the Portuguese substitute made no mistake and fired the winner into the top corner.
"Words can't describe it, it's such a resilient group," Atlanta coach Rob Valentino said after the win.
“I told the team before the game that they were all together, it wouldn't be just one person. And then a substitute comes in and makes us win the game.
New York ties the series
In other MLS playoff games on Saturday, New York City FC defeated FC Cincinnati 3-1 to force a decisive third game in their first-round series.
New York, needing a win to keep their season alive, took the lead in the 22nd minute after Costa Rican international Alonso Martinez worked a clever one-two with Mitja Ilenic before slotting past Cincinnati keeper Roman Celentano with a low kick.
Brazilian defender Thiago Martins doubled New York's lead five minutes before halftime, heading wide after a free kick from the right confused Cincinnati's defense.
Third-seeded Cincinnati struck again in the 65th minute with a superb individual goal from Argentina forward Luca Orellano, who made a small bridge before firing a left-footed shot into the top corner to make it 2 . -1.
Cincinnati applied relentless pressure to equalize in the final minutes of the game, and Zimbabwean player Teenage Hadebe should have equalized in the 80th minute, but his spot-kick went straight to New York goalkeeper Matt Freese. In the dying minutes of added time, New York secured the victory with a penalty scored by Uruguayan midfielder Santiago Rodriguez, who scored with a cheeky "panenka" in the middle of the goal.
The third game of the series will be in Cincinnati next Saturday.
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