Despite the weather-related disruption, the action on the pitch proved lively. Messi, Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player, remained central to his team's attacking efforts throughout the contest. His influence was immediate, helping Miami navigate a challenging encounter against a resilient Atlanta side.
Key Moments and Match Developments
Inter Miami opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when Casemiro connected with a corner delivered by Messi, heading the ball into the net. Atlanta United responded quickly, leveling the score just three minutes later through a low strike from former Newcastle forward Miguel Almiron.
As the first half drew to a close, Miami regained the lead. Messi initiated a move down the left flank that culminated in a precise finish from Luis Suarez, sending the hosts into the break with a 2-1 advantage. However, the lead was not enough to secure all three points, as Swiss striker Breel Embolo converted a penalty in the 87th minute to finalize the 2-2 scoreline.
Action Across Major League Soccer
Elsewhere in the league, Toronto and Chicago played out a high-scoring 4-4 draw. Josh Sargent netted a hat-trick for Toronto, while Chicago’s Maren Haile-Selassie scored twice. Robert Lewandowski added a 63rd-minute goal for Chicago, but a stoppage-time strike from Derrick Etienne ultimately forced a share of the points.
In other results, Philadelphia secured a 2-0 victory over Montreal, highlighted by a 75th-minute goal from 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan. This performance brought Sullivan’s season tally to four goals and seven assists, setting a new record for scoring contributions by a 16-year-old in a single season, surpassing the previous mark of 10 held by Freddy Adu since 2005. Meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann’s 28th-minute goal secured a 1-0 win for Orlando against San Diego, and Austin salvaged a 1-1 draw against San Jose thanks to a goal from Guilherme Biro in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time.
