Atlanta United 2-1 Inter Miami HIGHLIGHTS, MLS Playoffs: Silva late-winner keeps Atlanta alive in 3-match series

A late-winner from Silva means Atlanta and Miami have one win each in the three-match series. The next fixture later this month will decide who among the two will qualify for the quarter final

Silva scores late as ATLANTA TAKES THE LEAD! Miranchuk found Nascimento inside the box and the forward took the shot without second thoughts as he put it past Callender into the top left corner! 

Five minutes added

RATTLES THE CROSS BAR! Saba Turns 180 degree to shoot towards the goal from close range but Callender gets a hand to it as it hits the crossbar

IN: Silva OUT: Fortune

ALba finds Campana just outside the box and the latter tries to find Cremaschi inside the box. But the cross is cleared away

Corner for Miami as Cremaschi’s attempted cross is cleared away. Messi to take it. Corner cleared by Guzan with ease

Messi and Alba try their best to break past the line of defense but almost everyone from Atlanta are inside the box guarding the keeper

Thiare is down and in visible pain after a tackle from Allen. The Atlanta forward was dribbling towards the Miami goal when the interception happened. He is subsequently subbed off

IN: Rios OUT: Thiare

IN: Muyumba OUT: McCarty

Suare’z near post effort on the volley is stopped by Guzan. Corner for Miami. Messi sends a quick lofted ball in, Martinez heads it but it gets deflected away for another corner. Alba takes it, Messi recieves it, tries to find the bottom right corner but its off target

Alba doesn’t do justice to what we just saw from Messi. The Argentinian turned 180 degree and provided a wonderful through ball to Alba on the left flank. The Spaniard tries to convert the half volley but hits it wide

CHANCE!! Callender stops an attempted through ball inside the box but fails to keep the ball in control. Fortune grabs it on the rebound, takes it away from Callender but manages to only side net it! 

ATLANTA PULLS ONE BACK! SCORES LEVEL! Brilliant lofted ball from Amador from way outside the box. Williams heads it past Callender with ease

Aviles gets booked and that’s a free kick for Atlanta at a dangerous position. Just outside the box on the left side. Saba takes it but hits it towards the wall 

CHANCE! Messi finds Alba on the right with a superb long ball. Alba then sends it inside the box towards Gomez, who slides but fails to make contact with the ball. Would’ve been a certain goal otherwise

Miami had the possession for a good minute and a half but Atalanta prepares for a counter. Amador’s cross is cleared by Allen near the box

Alba’s shot is pushed away as Miami gets a corner. Messi to take it. High in the air and towards Suarez, who heads it but it’s cleared away

Thiare makes a dangerous run down the left flank as he gets deep into the Miami half. But Martinez comes up with a timely tackle to keep him at bay

Suarez gets the ball rolling as the final 45 minutes begin

IN: Cremaschi OUT: Bright

And that’s the end of the first 45 minutes. A fairly competitive half apart from the error from the goalkeeper. Miami will look to either keep going or defend what’s on board because a win here would take them into the quarterfinal 

Hernandez gets booked as his sliding tackle brings Gomez down on the left lane

Three minutes added

Miami has shifted to a laid-back approach now since they have a two-goal cushion. They’re defending any development coming their way but haven’t really initiated an attack

GOOAAALLLLL! INTER MIAMI TAKES THE LEAD! An unfathomable error from the keeper Guzan as he squanders possession near the box while trying a goal kick. David Martinez is there to capitalise and he chips it over a couple of defenders towards the left bottom corner! 

Corner for Miami. Alba takes it as usual. Sends a high ball inside the box but it’s cleared away with ease

Just under 10 minutes remain in the first half and it has been as entertaining as it gets. Chances for both the sides but none of them created an impact

Suarez gets a dangerous through ball inside the box but two defenders pounce on him to clear it away

SAVED! Miranchuk tries to go for the goal from a long way out. Tries for the top bin but Callender comes up with a wonderful diving save to keep the scores level. Corner for Atlanta but nothing comes off it

Alba from the left flank, sends a lofted ball inside the box towards Gomez but it’s cleared away for a corner

Brilliant defending from Allen near the edge of the box. Thiare gets an inch perfect through ball and it was just Callender between him and a goal. But Allen comes from behind to make a crucial tackle

The first 20 minutes have been a constant back and fourth between both the sides. Atlanta have managed to keep both Alba and Messi silent on the flanks and the scoreline reflects the same

Fortune, who tries to get in the way of Redondo’s pass is down on the ground and the reason is unknown. Looks like he’s twisted his ankle and he’s off the field as physios take a look at him. Miami will temporarily have the man advantage

McCarty is on the recieving end this time as he mistimes a tackle on Messi. Quick free kick taken by Miami as Messi and McCarty exchange a few words 

Sloppy tackle from Bright on McCarty near the halfway line and there’s stoppage of play. The Miami man is left with just a warning. Lucky

Corner for Atlanta this time as Martinez’s block goes over the line. Miranchuk serves it into the box but it’s cleared away. He gets the ball back on the rebound and sends a lofted ball inside again towards Thiare, who misses a header 

Fortune gets tackled by Weigandt near the halfway line and draws a free kick for Atlanta. Amador takes it and sends it towards the back post. But it is nowhere near any of his teammates. Goal kick for Miami

Corner for Miami as Messi’s pass gets deflected away. Alba to take it. He plays it to Messi on the right flank near him. The number 10 then drives it into the box but it’s a comfortable grab for Guzan, the keeper 

A lofted ball comes towards a running Miranchuk, who gets deep into the Miami box but fails to control the ball at the last moment 

Atlanta taking things slow now. It has controlled possession for quite a while now but hasn’t made any threatening runs in the opposition’s half

HUGE CHANCE GOES BEGGING! Suarez dribbles past a couple of defenders at the edge of the box and tries to loft it into the net but he over-hits it. Suarez puts up a protest saying there was a deflection but the referee thinks otherwise

Messi to Redondo on the right. The latter, who recieves it on the right lane, sends it inside the box towards Alba on the far post. But the ball travels faster than a sliding Alba

Miami tries for an opening on the left flank as Jordi Alba sprints past a couple of midfielders and takes the ball near the box. However, Atlanta defenders pressure him to give up possession

MLS Playoffs game two is underway as Atlanta gets the ball rolling. If Inter manages a win this time, it will qualify for the quarterfinal 

The players have entered the stadium and have lined up for the national anthem. The match will start pretty soon, so stay tuned 

This is the second leg of the MLS playoffs fixture between Inter and Atlanta. Lionel Messi’s side currently leads 2-1 and enters the match as clear favourite. This is the second game of the best-of-three series

Overall head-to-head: 

Matches 15 

Atlanta United: 5 wins

Inter Miami: 6 wins

Draws: 4

Atlanta United: Guzan, Hernandez, Abram, Williams, Amador, Slisz, McCarty, Lobzhanidze, Miranchuk, Fortune, Thiare

Inter Miami: Callender, Allen, Martinez, Aviles, Alba, Redondo, Bright, Weigandt, Gomez, Suarez, Messi

The MLS match between Inter Miami and Atlanta United can be live streamed on the Apple+ app/website on a subscription basis. There is unfortunately no broadcast in India