Aleksey Miranchuk scored a late equalizer to secure a 2-2 draw for Atlanta against Inter Miami in Major League Soccer on Wednesday, with Lionel Messi unable to provide a decisive moment despite coming on as a late substitute for the visitors.Messi, who returned from injury in stunning form on Saturday by scoring two quick goals in Miami’s 3-1 win over Philadelphia, was rested at the start of the game by coach Gerardo Martino. Martino, cautious of overworking the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner during a busy week of fixtures, also left out former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba from the starting lineup.Inter Miami have already clinched a spot in the MLS Cup Eastern Conference playoffs and lead the race for the Supporters’ Shield (awarded to the team that tops the overall standings) with 63 points. The Florida team took a 2-1 lead thanks to goals from David Ruiz and Leonardo Campana before Messi entered the match in the 61st minute.Messi nearly sealed the game for Miami in the 83rd minute, but Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan saved his angled shot, and Luis Suarez’s follow-up attempt was also blocked. A minute later, Atlanta’s Miranchuk, who joined from Europa League winners Atalanta in July, scored a stunning left-footed strike from outside the box to level the score.WOW 😱 ALEXEY MIRANCHUK 😱AN ABSOLUTE GOLAZO TO EQUALIZE FOR @ATLUTD VS. INTER MIAMI. pic.twitter.com/grgJtSSfzF— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 19, 2024 Inter Miami had gone into halftime up 1-0 after 20-year-old David Ruiz netted his first goal of the season. Ruiz, making his first start since mid-June, calmly finished after being set up by a through ball from Argentine Franco Negri.Atlanta equalized in the 56th minute when Saba Lobzhanidze’s header deflected off Miami defender Ian Fray and slipped past goalkeeper Drake Callender. However, Miami quickly retook the lead just three minutes later when Campana scored from a free kick, surpassing Gonzalo Higuain as the club’s all-time top scorer with 30 goals.David Ruiz pour le 1-0. Quel action.😍 pic.twitter.com/FiybqyoX07— INTER MIAMI FR (@IntermiamiFR_) September 19, 2024 🇬🇪🇺🇸Saba Lobjanidze with his 7th MLS goal for Atlanta United last night!⚽️3rd overall against Inter Miami this season.pic.twitter.com/jy64FImM3i— Georgian Footy (@GeorgianFooty) September 19, 2024 LEONARDO CAMPANA (30) SE CONVIERTE EN EL MÁXIMO GOLEADOR HISTÓRICO DEL INTER MIAMI 🇪🇨👏pic.twitter.com/p2tqM521tl— Pablo Giralt (@giraltpablo) September 19, 2024 Messi’s arrival energized both teams and thrilled the crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a stark contrast to the disappointment fans felt when he sat out a game at the same venue last year. Despite the excitement, it was Atlanta who capitalized on the momentum to earn the draw.While Messi, Alba, and Suarez all entered in the second half, Miami were missing key players including suspended Sergio Busquets and Tomas Aviles, as well as injured David Martinez and Diego Gomez. Martino, serving a suspension due to yellow card accumulation, watched from a suite.”It was a tough game, especially when we came to play here it’s a tough stadium to play and a difficult team,” Miami assistant coach Javier Morales said. “But I think we had a good performance.##NAJAVA_MECA_8348737##”I think in the first half we found the goal and managed the game in a good way. And then in the second half, when they scored the goal, Campana responded with ours and then we thought that we were going to manage the game a little bit better.”But of course, Atlanta is playing at home, they’re going to push, they had a big crowd, and this is kind of the game that we expected.”Despite the draw, Miami still has a chance to secure the Supporters’ Shield with five matches remaining in the regular season. They maintain an eight-point lead over Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference, who won 2-1 against Minnesota thanks to goals from Yuya Kubo and Luca Orellano.
