LIONEL MESSI’S Inter Miami saw their MLS season come to a devastating end following a shock loss to Atlanta United in the play-offs.
Miami ended the regular season top of the Eastern Conference and with the best record and highest points total in MLS history to win the Supporters Shield.
Atlanta were handed just a ten per cent chance of making the MLS Cup semi-finals after coming through the first round against Montreal FC and they will now face Orlando City in the final four.
David Beckham’s team suffered a devastating 3-2 loss at the Chase Stadium where their titles hopes came crashing down.
Miami opened the scoring on 17 minutes with Matias Rojas but Atlanta equalised only two minutes later with Jamal Thiare, who then completed a brace in the 21st minute.
Messi equalised for Gerardo Martino’s side on 65 minutes but United sealed their historic triumph in the 76th minute with Bartosz Slisz’s winner.
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The host of Apple TV’s MLS 360 coverage Kevin Egan described this as the “biggest upset in MLS history”.
Egan tweeted: “We’ve just witnessed easily the biggest upset in MLS history!
“Atlanta United had a 10% chance of making the playoffs on Decision Day.
“The lowest ranked team remaining just knocked Messi and Miami out on their own turf. What?!?!”
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Martino then addressed Messi’s future at the club, with the star forward’s contract running out on December 31, 2025.
And the ex-Barcelona manager confirmed the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s future is uncertain.
Martino said: “I actually don’t know how limited [Messi’s time in the MLS] is.
“There is a question of time passing, but I would not dare to say that it is so short.
“If you look at the context in which this began, it seems to me that the progress of the club is important.
“The comparison of the last game of last season, back in October, with today’s third game in the play-offs and this bitterness that we all have for not having progressed, is clear that the club’s objectives have been modified and I think there is no reason for the club not to continue trying next year.
“What happened this year, the bad and the good in general have been better than everything that happened last year and I would say even from the entire life of the club.”
Miami, though, are set to compete in this summer’s controversial Club World Cup competition in the US after a questionable call from Fifa.
Rival MLS club officials have accused Fifa of having no clear qualification criteria for Inter.
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The world governing body pointed to Miami winning the Supporters Shield, awarded to the club who perform the best over the regular season, as the reason for their qualification.
But MLS club owners claim they have jumped the gun simply to ensure that Messi is involved in the revamped 32-team tournament.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
