Inter Miami 1-3 Atlanta United: Lobjanidze double stuns hosts

Saba Lobjanidze stole the spotlight from Lionel Messi with two remarkable goals as Atlanta United pulled off a stunning 3-1 victory over Inter Miami in Major League Soccer action on Wednesday.

In a match where all eyes were on Messi and his star-studded Miami lineup, Lobjanidze's brilliance shone through as he struck twice from long range to give Atlanta a commanding 2-0 lead, leaving the home crowd in disbelief.

Despite Messi's efforts to spark a comeback with a goal of his own, cutting the deficit to 2-1, Atlanta remained undeterred. Jamal Thiare sealed the deal for Atlanta with a goal in the 73rd minute, capitalizing on Caleb Wiley's precise cross.

While Lobjanidze rightfully claimed the headlines with his brace, it was Thiago Almada who truly stole the show for Atlanta. The Argentine playmaker, a World Cup winner alongside Messi, orchestrated both of Atlanta's goals with his exceptional individual skill, consistently troubling Miami's defense throughout the match.

Despite the loss, Miami maintains their position atop the Eastern Conference with 34 points from 17 games. Their closest challengers, Cincinnati, also stumbled to a defeat on Wednesday, further solidifying Miami's position at the summit.

From the outset, Atlanta displayed their attacking prowess, with Brooks Lennon narrowly missing the target early on with a threatening shot.

Lobjanidze opened the scoring just before halftime with a sensational solo effort, charging forward from midfield before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner past Miami's goalkeeper, Drake Callender.

The Georgian midfielder doubled his tally in the 59th minute, capitalizing on Almada's exquisite playmaking to finish off a swift Atlanta counterattack, leaving Callender with no chance as his curling shot found the back of the net.

In a match billed as a showdown between Messi and his former Barcelona comrades, including Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, it was Atlanta who emerged victorious, showcasing their resilience and attacking prowess against the odds.

On the 62nd minute, the second goal from Atlanta served as a wake-up call for Miami, and it was Messi who provided a glimmer of hope for the Eastern Conference leaders. With a sudden burst of speed, he advanced towards the goal and skillfully directed a powerful, long-range shot into the bottom corner.

Despite this setback, Atlanta maintained their offensive prowess and capitalized on the counter-attack. In the 73rd minute, Almada's impressive performance set up Wiley to deliver a precise cross for Senegalese striker Thiare, who calmly poked the ball into the net, extending Atlanta's lead to 3-1