Messi Missing As Inter Miami Suffers Heavy Defeat At Atlanta United

Lionel Messi was missing in action as his new MLS club, Inter Miami suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat to Atlanta United.

This crushing defeat is the first loss suffered by the club since the Argentine superstar joined from Paris Saint Germain.

Miami manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino said Messi and Spanish defender Jordi Alba missed the game due to “muscular fatigue” and that their absences were not related to the FieldTurf surface at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Inter Miami opened the scoring in the 25th minute on Campana’s eighth goal of the season. Atlanta erased the deficit by scoring three times in eight minutes to carry a 3-1 lead into half-time.

Campana took the rebound off Dixon Arroyo’s strike, which hit the post, and got around Atlanta defender Miles Robinson with some fancy footwork before beating Brad Guzan.

Muyumba scored the equalizer for Atlanta in the 36th minute, putting a header past Miami keeper Drake Callender. The play was reviewed to determine if the ball crossed the goal line, but the video was inconclusive.

Atlanta took the lead with an own goal. Xande Silva’s strike deflected off Inter Miami defender Kamal Miller and past Callender.

Lennon gave Atlanta a 3-1 lead, taking a Caleb Wiley cross and beating Callender with a right-footed strike from the middle of the box for his fourth goal of the season.

Miami will have Messi back in time for matches at home against Toronto on Wednesday and at Orlando on Sept. 24 before the U.S. Open Cup final against the Houston Dynamo three days later.