Atlanta United started its Major Soccer League season with solid performances against New England and Orlando but fell apart as the spring dragged on.
By the time Atlanta lined up in May against Inter Miami, its star-studded Southeast rival, it was mired in a nine-match MLS winless streak and teetering on the edge of disaster. Fighting for first in the Eastern Conference, Miami entered the match as the clear favorite, but that didn’t matter.
Atlanta found a second gear and delivered an all-time performance, beating Miami, 3-1, on the strength of Saba Lobzhanidze’s brace. It remains the only time this season that full-strength Miami — with Lionel Messi starting on the wing — was roundly beaten.
