Atlanta shock overwhelming favourites Miami to reach MLS semi-finals

Lionel Messi's first journey to the MLS postseason ended suddenly on Saturday, when Atlanta United's midfielder Bartosz Slisz scored the game-winner in a stunning, 3-2 victory over Inter Miami in Round One.

Atlanta's Jamal Thiare scored in the 19th minute and again two minutes later, before Slisz put them ahead in the 76th minute, setting up a semi-final encounter with Orlando City SC.

Miami were overwhelming favourites to win it all after scoring a league-high 74 points in the regular season, but they were unable to maintain their momentum following Matias Rojas' close-range goal in the 17th minute and Messi's goal in the 65th minute.

A sea of pink-clad Miami fans held their breath as Thiare hit the woodwork in the 15th minute, and Atlanta applied pressure from the start.

Guzan made a diving leap to deny Messi's powerful drive from the heart of the box in the 17th minute, but he was unable to recover in time to stop Rojas' follow-up from close range, as Miami scored first.

Thiare replied soon, smashing one into the top right corner, and he added another excellent goal in the 21st minute thanks to a beautiful move from midfielder Aleksey Miranchuk.

Miami midfielder Diego Gomez nearly tied the game in the 24th minute, beating Atlanta defender Ronald Hernandez and sneaking the ball past Guzan, but the goal was ruled off.

Guzan remained vigilant in the second half, swatting away a wonderful header from defender Jordi Alba in the 52nd minute, but Messi burst through the 40-year-old keeper's barriers to square the game with a header from close range.

With their backs against the wall, Atlanta refused to let up, and Slisz soared into the air to head in a superb cross from defender Pedro Amador.

Miami got a free kick in stoppage time, but Messi booted it into a wall of Atlanta players, and frenzied late-game scoring attempts went unrewarded.

SportsLigue