Inter Miami's record-breaking MLS season came to an unexpected and screeching halt in the first round of the playoffs against Atlanta United.
The Herons—who finished the regular season with 74 points, a new MLS record—fell in the Best-of-Three series 2–1 against Atlanta, dropping the final two matches of the series. The 2024 Supporters' Shield were the outright favorites to lift MLS Cup with MVP frontrunner Lionel Messi leading the way, but the Five Stripes stunned the MLS world with the upset.
The Herons pushed for the opener in the first 10 minutes with Atlanta looking to play more direct on the counter. Atlanta had a chance to break the deadlock as Jamal Thiaré's close-range strike hit the post, and Miami made the visitors pay for its missed chance.
Diego Gómez picked out Messi at the top of the Atlanta penalty area and his shot was once again saved by the veteran Brad Guzan. However, Matías Rojas was there to fire home the loose ball into the roof of the net.
Moments later, though, Atlanta took the lead through a quick-fire brace from Thiaré. Thiare scored twice in two minutes to turn the game on its head as Guzan denied Messi once again before the halftime interval with the visitors up 2–1.
