ATLANTA — In a thrilling playoff encounter Saturday night, Xande Silva netted a dramatic winner in the dying moments of stoppage time, leading ninth-seeded Atlanta United to a 2-1 triumph over Inter Miami. This victory evened the best-of-three MLS playoff series at a game each.
Silva unleashed a powerful right-footed strike into the top left corner of the net in the 94th minute, leaving goalkeeper Drake Callender with no chance. The crowd of 68,455 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium erupted in cheers as Silva celebrated with exuberance, removing his shirt and dancing in front of the loyal fans.
While Lionel Messi demonstrated his threatening presence with multiple scoring opportunities, his effort was nullified by an offside call that came just before Silva’s goal. After Atlanta regained possession, they swiftly transitioned up the pitch for the decisive goal.
After trailing 1-0 at halftime due to a significant blunder by goalkeeper Brad Guzan, Atlanta United rallied, setting the stage for a decisive game three in South Florida next Saturday. Atlanta, who finished the regular season 34 points behind the top-ranked squad led by Messi, now has the chance to pull off a remarkable upset.
Derrick Williams managed to level the score in the 58th minute after an initial corner kick from Miami was cleared. Pedro Amador responded by sending a cross back into the box, where Williams dove to connect with a header that skimmed past Callender and into the net.
Guzan’s mistake had allowed Miami to take the lead in the 40th minute. After simply gathering a cross, he miscalculated his kick and stumbled, losing control of the ball just as Miami’s Federico Redondo approached. Redondo quickly passed the ball to David Martínez, who deftly flicked it over four defenders into the vacant goal while Guzan watched helplessly.
The seasoned keeper argued that Redondo had interfered, but video replays indicated that Guzan tripped over his own feet. Messi’s efforts were lacking in precision, as he squandered at least three clear chances, mistiming his shots before shooting over the bar in the 83rd minute while Miami sought to regain their lead. He departed the field visibly frustrated, rubbing his beard in disbelief.
Atlanta almost seized the advantage in the 89th minute when Saba Lobjanidze struck the crossbar. Bartosz Slisz recovered the rebound but sent his follow-up attempt over the goal.
Ultimately, Silva’s late strike ensured that Atlanta’s efforts paid off. Inter Miami had secured victory in the series opener, winning 2-1 at home.
LOOKING AHEAD
The winner of the third game will progress to the conference semifinals, where they will face the winner of the Orlando-Charlotte series, currently also tied at 1-1.
