Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami score: Without Lionel Messi, the Herons have no answer for Atlanta’s attack

Without Lionel Messi, Inter Miami’s 12-match unbeaten steak has come to an end in a 5-2 loss to Atlanta on Saturday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Messi and Jordi Alba were left out of the 18 to give them a chance to rest from “muscular fatigue,” according to manager Tata Martino. In the early going, it didn’t seem like that would cause an issue as Leonardo Campana scored one of the goals of the season following a well-threaded ball from Dixon Arroyo to put the Herons ahead 25 minutes into the match.

Only minutes later, Tristian Muyumba would score an equalizer in a controversial fashion. The ball hit the post and then was saved by Drake Callender but due to angles, it was tough to tell if the entire ball actually crossed the line to be counted as a goal. Due to MLS not having goal-line technology, it would have to be a clear and obvious error to be ruled out which can’t be done properly with the naked eye.

The goal threw Miami into disarray as Atlanta United scored two goals in three minutes. Brooks Lennon scored the first and then Kamal Miller put the ball into the wrong net for the second. Even with Sergio Busquets on the pitch, no one was able to steady Miami in the moment, seeing the match get out of hand. Even with Campana getting a goal back, emotions got the best of the team with multiple scuffles and the Herons allowing two more goals to put things out of reach.

It’s a performance that shows not only what Messi brings to the attack when he features for Miami but also the steadying presence that he has over the team wearing the armband. Always knowing who they can look for as a passing outlet or to make a big play makes things much easier for the Herons on the pitch.

This loss won’t be what keeps them out of MLS playoffs if Messi can make good on the rest to lead the team past Toronto FC on Wednesday but it does show Miami that they aren’t invincible. It can be easy to get that feeling on a streak of consecutive victories but now Martino can go back to the drawing board to get things back on track.