Clock ticking for Messi as Miami suffer biggest shock in MLS postseason history

Jeff Carlisle, a soccer reporter for the U.S., wrote on November 10, 2024, at 10:00 AM.

Have you ever experienced a nightmare that felt so vivid it was a struggle to pull yourself back to reality? Once you finally do, the overwhelming sense of relief that it was just a dream floods over you. Now, picture what MLS commissioner Don Garber and the team at MLS headquarters are going through at this moment. Unfortunately for them, they can't just wake up from their most terrifying situation regarding the MLS Cup playoffs.

Inter Miami and its star-studded roster, featuring Lionel Messi, faced elimination from the playoffs after losing to Atlanta United, 3-2. Their hopes of winning both the Supporters' Shield and the MLS Cup were dashed by a remarkable performance from the Five Stripes.

During the MLS Cup final in December, Inter Miami and the league won't have the chance to celebrate in South Beach, Miami Beach, or even Ft. Lauderdale Beach. The possibility of drawing in celebrities for this key event has significantly decreased now that there’s no chance of Messi attending. (However, if the final is held in Los Angeles, that might help soften the blow.) More critically, the audience for the remaining playoff games on Apple TV is likely to plummet due to the huge gap left by Miami's exit from the tournament.

When asked about the atmosphere in the Miami locker room following the game, manager Tata Martino expressed: "It's a bit gloomy... which is natural when there are high hopes and the team falls short. Typically, in this final stretch of the year, we get accustomed to reaching our goals, but we haven't succeeded in accomplishing the most crucial one."

However, credit goes to Atlanta. The Five Stripes earned their victory and showed no fear when facing their rivals. They're now in a great position, with plenty of confidence on their side.

How significant was this "MLSCupset"? It's not particularly surprising that the Supporters' Shield champions were knocked out in the MLS playoffs; historically, only four teams in the last two decades have achieved both the Shield and MLS Cup in the same season. Upsets happen frequently. This year's Eastern Conference playoff bracket has been completely reshaped, with both the second-seeded Columbus Crew and the third-seeded FC Cincinnati also facing elimination.

That being said, Atlanta's victory stands out as perhaps the most surprising moment in MLS playoff history. The Five Stripes let go of two of their key players, Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis, in the middle of the season. They only managed to secure a playoff spot on the final day of the regular season, thanks to a 2-1 away victory against Orlando—who they would face next—along with losses from both the Philadelphia Union and D.C. United. This fortunate turn of events allowed Atlanta to rank ninth out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference, trailing Messi's team by an astonishing 34 points. Moreover, they had to navigate a tense penalty shootout in the play-in round against CF Montreal. Given the star-studded lineup of Miami and their advantage of playing at home throughout the playoffs, few people expected Atlanta to make it past them.

Everything appeared to be on track in Game 1, as Miami secured a 2-1 victory on their home turf. However, Atlanta managed to stay in the competition with a 2-1 triumph at Mercedes-Benz Stadium last Saturday, featuring a last-minute goal from Xande Silva. They then wrapped up the series in Fort Lauderdale, bolstered by two goals from Jamal Thiaré, impressive saves from Brad Guzan, and a decisive goal from Bartosz Slisz in the 76th minute.

This achievement came thanks to interim manager Rob Valentino, who, in his postgame interviews, gave off a vibe reminiscent of a young Bob Bradley, sporting a serious expression and a bald head. If Atlanta opts for another route for their long-term manager, Valentino should keep his phone handy and charged. With how he has revitalized Atlanta's season, he’s likely to attract attention from other teams.

Regarding the celebrations on Saturday, how exactly did Atlanta manage to pull this off?

"Determination, faith, and perseverance. I'm not sure how to put it," Guzan shared with Apple TV. "There's a special kind of energy in our locker room, honestly. I couldn't be prouder of the team."

Valentino mentioned, "You can really see how much the players care. Everyone is fully committed. The club has experienced some difficult moments, and I'm pleased to see everyone finding some happiness. But I hope this is just the beginning."

Miami's season has come to an end, and in many ways, they have only themselves to hold accountable. The team's defense raised concerns throughout the season; in fact, over the last two decades, only one Supporters' Shield champion has allowed more goals than the 49 that the Herons gave up this year. The only exception was Seattle, which let in 50 goals in 2014.

However, Miami typically overwhelmed opponents with an outpouring of creativity, spearheaded by stars like Messi and Luis Suárez. This time was different, though. Even after Matías Rojas scored to put Miami in the lead in the 17th minute, Thiaré quickly turned the tide for Atlanta by netting two goals within just two minutes, making it clear that Miami had a tough battle ahead.

There seemed to be something more significant happening beneath the surface. Despite achieving a record 74 points in the regular season, the Herons appeared to struggle with the idea that this accomplishment alone wouldn't secure them the title of league champion. They had to face the challenging journey of the postseason. Is this something that would be obvious to a European? Not really. But that's the way it is in MLS, and Miami seemed to have trouble coming to terms with it.

Miami defender Jordi Alba expressed some concerns about the current format. "I find it somewhat unjust," he stated. "Although this structure has been in place for quite a while, I believe that if it were up to me, I would prefer a matchup between the champion of one conference and the champion of the other to ensure fairness."

On the field, Miami started to lose their cool, as Suarez resorted to his usual questionable tactics. After Messi scored a header to equalize at 2-2 in the 65th minute, Leo Campana pushed goalkeeper Guzan into his own net during the chaos. Miami was walking a tightrope, while Atlanta showed no hesitation in getting into a gritty battle.

Atlanta netted two goals within just two minutes to take the lead against Inter Miami.

Atlanta's Jamal Thiaré scores two goals, putting United ahead of Inter Miami.

The decisive moment came when Slisz scored the winning goal. As Miami defender Tomás Avilés lay on the ground with what looked like an injury, the other Miami players seemed to lose focus, assuming that either Atlanta or the referee would halt the game. Martino pointed out that Miami had paused play for an injury during Game 2 in Atlanta, but the idea of showing that kind of sportsmanship, which used to be standard, is no longer a guarantee. The well-known saying about playing until the whistle was overlooked. Atlanta pressed on, which they were entitled to do, and while Miami's defenders were caught off guard, Slisz met Pedro Amador's cross with a powerful header that easily found the back of the net, outpacing Drake Callender.

It was somewhat ironic that two of the main contributors to Atlanta's victory were seasoned players with humble beginnings: midfielder Dax McCarty and goalkeeper Brad Guzan. McCarty, who has announced he will retire at the end of this season, played a crucial role by assisting on both of Thiaré's goals and controlling the midfield until he began to tire around the 60-minute mark. After he exited the game, Atlanta seemed to struggle a bit. Guzan, on the other hand, made seven saves, including some spectacular ones that frustrated Suarez. This serves as a reminder that, despite the star power brought by players like Messi and Suarez, winning the MLS Cup still relies on having a solid understanding of the local game.

After the game, Guzan embraced everyone around him, while McCarty chose to focus on his two kids. Meanwhile, Martino and the Miami players couldn't help but feel disappointed about a chance they let slip away.

"The contrast between the final game of last season in October and today’s playoff match reveals the disappointment we all feel about not advancing. It’s evident that the club's goals have changed, and I believe there’s no reason for us not to keep striving for success next year," the Miami manager commented. "Overall, the experiences from this past year—both the challenges and successes—have been an improvement over everything we faced last season, and I would argue even from the very start of the club’s journey."

That's a rather optimistic take on the situation, especially considering how Miami didn't meet the high hopes placed on them. There's also another point to consider: Messi only has one year remaining on his contract. Although he could choose to renew it, time is running out—not just on Messi's stay in South Florida, but also on the league's chances to make the most of his presence.

In the meantime, Atlanta's hopes of winning the championship are still very much intact.