In a surprising turn of events, struggling Atlanta United managed to stun league leaders Inter Miami 3-1 in Major League Soccer, with Georgia international Saba Lobjanidze stealing the spotlight from Lionel Messi with two remarkable goals.
Lobjanidze’s impressive performance saw him netting two long-range strikes, one just before half-time and another on the 59th minute, giving Atlanta a 2-0 lead.
Although Messi pulled one back for Miami to make it 2-1, Atlanta extended their lead with Jamal Thiare scoring in the 73rd minute.
While Lobjanidze claimed the glory with his brace, Messi’s Argentina teammate Thiago Almada shone for Atlanta, assisting in two goals with his exceptional individual skills and causing trouble for Inter Miami’s defense throughout the match.
Despite the defeat, Inter Miami remains at the top of the Eastern Conference with 34 points from 17 games. The loss for Miami was compounded by Cincinnati’s 2-0 defeat at home to Nashville on the same night.
Atlanta’s attacking intent was evident early on, with midfielder Brooks Lennon narrowly missing a chance just 10 minutes into the game.
Lobjanidze’s first goal just before half-time showcased his individual brilliance, while his second goal capitalized on a counter-attack orchestrated by Almada.
Messi’s goal for Miami briefly sparked hopes of a comeback, but Atlanta’s relentless counter-attacking play sealed their victory. With Almada once again playing a crucial role, Wiley provided the assist for Thiare to seal the win for Atlanta United.
