Atlanta United have completed arguably the most stunning upset in Audi MLS Cup Playoffs history, eliminating Supporters’ Shield winners Inter Miami CF with Saturday’s 3-2 victory at Chase Stadium.
Atlanta rode a first-half brace from striker Jamal Thiaré and a 76th-minute winner from midfielder Bartosz Slisz, sealing Game 3 of their Round One Best-of-3 Series. In turn, they’ve booked an Eastern Conference Semifinal at Orlando City SC after the November international break.
Inter Miami opened the scoring via midfielder Matías Rojas and equalized through Lionel Messi‘s 65th-minute header. But they couldn’t force a penalty-kick shootout and were repeatedly stymied by goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who made seven saves.
Atlanta are the Eastern Conference No. 9 seed and finished 34 points below Inter Miami, whose 74-point regular-season haul set an MLS record. Messi & Co. were looking to become the eighth-ever team to win a Supporters’ Shield-MLS Cup double.
First appeared on www.mlssoccer.com