Alexey Miranchuk saves Atlanta United's draw with Inter Miami

It could have been a winning goal if Atlanta United had gotten into the game quicker, and interim coach Rob Valentino was very surprised after it had already happened in two consecutive games.

“The way we played the game at the end, the way we played, maybe not from a tactical point of view… that's not the kind of football we want to play, but in terms of work rate and effort to win the game, that's what I'm talking about,” Valentino said. “That's every day, every day of training, every single day over a consistent period of time, and then you go far.”

In addition to Miranchuk's goal, which a group of Russian journalists said was typical of him, Messi's substitution in the 61st minute was another highlight for the 67,795 spectators. It was his first appearance with Miami in Atlanta after not traveling with the team to the game last season.

One low point was that Atlanta United (8-13-8) failed to win either of its two games in this short home game. In the East, the team fell from 10th to 11th place, but is only one point away from the ninth and final playoff spot. Atlanta United plays at the Red Bulls on Saturday.

Valentino's lineup consisted of striker Daniel Rios, midfielders Miranchuk, Lobjanidze, Dax McCarty, Tristan Muyumba and Bartosz Slisz, fullbacks Brooks Lennon and Pedro Amador, center backs Stian Gregersen and Derrick Williams and goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Inter Miami had to do without the suspended coach Gerardo Martino, and the team was missing a number of other regular players. Messi was also initially absent, which meant the stadium was filled to capacity, but he sat on the bench.

Atlanta United's players showed the same energy against Miami as they did in their recent loss to Nashville, but it did nothing to strengthen the attack.

Miami took a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute with a goal from David Ruiz. Atlanta United were unlucky. A pass deflected off McCarty and the ball went straight to Ruiz, who had made a short run to the top of the box into the space between Amador, who was unable to keep up with him, and Gregersen. Ruiz took a deflection, got in front of Guzan and fired into the bottom right corner. It was Miami's second shot of the game. Atlanta United had only had one shot that went off target up to that point.

Adding to Atlanta United's woes was the fact that the team entered the game with a 1-10-4 record when their opponents scored their first goal this season.

Atlanta United finished the half without a single shot on goal. The problems on offense were best demonstrated in a sequence around the 40th minute. Atlanta United were involved in a counterattack. Slisz played a pass intended for Lobjanidze, who sprinted down the left wing. However, Rios, who was on the same line as the pass, stopped the ball. Had he let it through, Lobjanidze would have been running toward goal, and no one but Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender would have been in front of him.

Atlanta United finished the half without a shot on goal, with a single key pass and an expected goal score of 0.1. There was just one shot on goal in the first half of the loss to Nashville.

“I don't know if it's nerves, I don't know if the guys are scared,” Guzan said. “We have to go out there and play with confidence and be on the rise. We talk about it every day and when the whistle blows, we wait for something to happen.”

Fans wait for Messi to come on as a warm-up substitute in the 48th minute and erupt in loud cheers, leading to Atlanta United's first goal in the 56th minute with a header from Lobjanidze. Amador provided the assist for the goal, his first of the season. Valentino said Amador played well for the second game in a row.

Of course, Atlanta United quickly conceded a goal and were unlucky again in the 59th minute when Leo Campana's free kick was deflected by McCarty and landed to the right of Guzan, who was diving to the left, giving Miami a 2-1 lead. McCarty's foul led to the free kick.

Messi came on as a substitute for Gressel in the 61st minute. It was his second appearance in the city, his first coming for Argentina at the Copa America earlier this year. Fortune and Mosquera came on for McCarty and Muyumba.

After Miranchuk's goal, Lobjanidze hit the crossbar with a shot in normal time, headed it over the bar and narrowly missed the top right corner with a right-footed shot in injury time. Miranchuk's shot also narrowly missed the right.

“I think everyone knew we had to raise the energy, especially at home,” Lennon said. “The result against Nashville was not ours. I think everyone's performance was poor, so tonight was a good test for us to play against a great team and bounce back twice in the game.”

If only Atlanta United could have started better.

“I sound so angry, like I didn't mean it,” said Valentino. “I'm happy we got a point. I think we deserved three, but that's not the way to start. Maybe in life everything evens out.”

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Atlanta United's 2024 schedule

February 24: Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0

March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1

March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0

March 23 – Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0

March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0

April 6: Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1

April 14: Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2

April 20 – Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1

April 27: Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1

May 4: Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1

May 7: Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in the US Open Cup

May 11: DC United 3, Atlanta United 2

May 15 Cincinnati 1, Atlanta United 0

May 18 – Atlanta United 1, Nashville 1

May 21 Atlanta United 0 (5), Charleston 0 (4) in the US Open Cup

May 25 LAFC 1, Atlanta United 0

May 29 – Atlanta United 3, Miami 1

June 2 Charlotte 3, Atlanta United 2

June 15 Atlanta United 2, Houston 2

June 19 Atlanta United 1, DC United 0

June 22 Atlanta United 1, St. Louis 1

June 29: Atlanta United 2, Toronto 1

July 3: New England 2, Atlanta United 1

July 6: Real Salt Lake 5, Atlanta United 2

July 9 vs Indy Eleven 2, Atlanta United 1

July 13 Montreal 1, Atlanta United 0

July 17 Atlanta United 2, NYCFC 2

July 20: Atlanta United 2, Columbus 1

July 26 DC United 3 (6), Atlanta United 3 (5) in the Leagues Cup

August 4: Santos Laguna 0 (5), Atlanta United 0 (3) in the Leagues Cup

August 24 LA Galaxy 2, Atlanta United 0

August 31: Atlanta United 1, Charlotte 0

September 14: Nashville 2, Atlanta United 0

September 18: Atlanta United 2, Miami 2

21 September at Red Bulls, 19:30

September 28 in Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 2 against Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

05.10. against Red Bulls, 19:30

October 19 in Orlando, 6 p.m.