<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1R3Tsa_0wOidUpu00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1R3Tsa_0wOidUpu00" width="1200" height="800" ></figure><p><i>Fort Lauderdale, FL</i> – Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba scored a goal apiece to lead Inter Miami CF to a historic first-ever playoff win, 2-1, over Atlanta United.</p><h2>Starting XI</h2><p>Tata Martino’s versatile lineup left us guessing whether the team would begin in a 5-3-2, or a 4-3-3 formation. The inclusion of rookie Yannick Bright with the starters allowed Inter Miami to play with a backline of 5 where Sergio Busquets would slide in as a center-back.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Starting XI for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InterMiamiCF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InterMiamiCF</a> lends itself to multiple formations… 5-3-2 or 4-3-3 easily interchangeable…I think it’s 4-3-3 with Busquets, Bright, &amp; Redondo in the midfield…<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLSCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLSCup</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLSCupPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLSCupPlayoffs</a><a href="https://t.co/el7cCvwcin">pic.twitter.com/el7cCvwcin</a></p><p>— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/XGLAVOZ/status/1849968999305511282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2024</a></p><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><h2>Game Action</h2><p>The Herons scored less than 2 minutes into the match when Luis Suarez blasted a shot past Brad Guzan. “El Pistolero” received a short pass inside the box by Diego Gomez and finished the play by putting the ball through Guzan’s legs and into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">GOOOOL!!! Luis Suárez puts it in the back of the net after Diego Gómez set him up in front of the Atl goal…1-0 less than 2 minutes into the match…<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InterMiamiCF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InterMiamiCF</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLS</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLSCupPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLSCupPlayoffs</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLSCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLSCup</a></p><p><a href="https://t.co/x0TVNiHPEI">pic.twitter.com/x0TVNiHPEI</a></p><p>— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/XGLAVOZ/status/1849977216941044178?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2024</a></p><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><p>Miami continued to dominate the action in the first half creating multiple clear goal-scoring chances but were denied time and time again by a massive Brad Guzan in the United goal. In one of its few chances in front of the Heron goal area, Saba Lobjanidze ripped a left-footed shot past Drake Callender for the 1-1 scoreline.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Saba once again scores against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InterMiamiCF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InterMiamiCF</a>… Miami has been knocking but couldn’t score a 2nd goal… Atl makes the most of its lone chance 1-1…<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLS</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLSCupPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLSCupPlayoffs</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLSCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLSCup</a></p><p><a href="https://t.co/CeaDrPv3gP">pic.twitter.com/CeaDrPv3gP</a></p><p>— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/XGLAVOZ/status/1849986527398404532?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2024</a></p><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><p>The teams went into halftime tied 1-1.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Herons go into halftime tied 1-1 despite dominating possession &amp; creating multiple clear scoring chances… Atl has managed to stay in the match &amp; made their lone chance count… <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InterMiamiCF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InterMiamiCF</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLS</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLSCupPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLSCupPlayoffs</a><a href="https://t.co/rlC505B6tv">pic.twitter.com/rlC505B6tv</a></p><p>— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/XGLAVOZ/status/1849991038686904504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2024</a></p><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><p>In ’60, Jordi Alba helped Inter Miami regain the lead for good with a phenomenal left-footed launch from long distance. Brad Guzan could only watch as it inflated the Atlanta net.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">JORDI ALBA with the cannon from outside the 18 yard box to give <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InterMiamiCF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InterMiamiCF</a> the 2-1 lead… Fantastic launch 🚀…<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLS</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLSCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLSCup</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLSCupPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLSCupPlayoffs</a></p><p><a href="https://t.co/Q49EY32Lx6">pic.twitter.com/Q49EY32Lx6</a></p><p>— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/XGLAVOZ/status/1849997353161503099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2024</a></p><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><p>Jordi’s brilliant strike gave Inter Miami its first playoff victory in team history. On a night when Lionel Messi wasn’t the star of the match, Suarez and Alba led Miami.</p><h2>Postgame</h2><p>Jordi Alba was a topic of conversation postgame with Coach Tata Martino, comparing him to some of the best left-backs in football history.</p><blockquote><p>“It’s not easy to find left-backs who are so decisive, that contribute so much to the offensive game of the team; Dani Alves, Cafu, Marcelo, Roberto Carlos, they’re all at that level…”</p></blockquote><p>Alba has been magnificent all season long for Inter Miami registering five goals and fifteen assists for the Herons. Those numbers would be really good for an attacking midfielder and they are awe-inspiring for a left-back.</p><h2>Final Thoughts</h2><p>Atlanta United, led by Brad Guzan’s superhuman effort in goal, gave Miami a tough test in the first match of the three-game series. If not for Guzan, Inter Miami could have won the game comfortably instead of sweating the result until the end. In Atlanta, I predict that the Herons will have better results finishing goal-scoring opportunities and Brad Guzan won’t have another incredible match. Messi and Friends should be able to end the series in Atlanta.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Herons suffer a tough match but pull out the 2-1 win over Atl United…<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi</a> didn’t have a great match but Suarez, Alba, &amp; Busquets lead Miami to the win…<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InterMiamiCF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InterMiamiCF</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLS</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLSCupPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLSCupPlayoffs</a><a href="https://t.co/iroI99qmS3">pic.twitter.com/iroI99qmS3</a></p><p>— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/XGLAVOZ/status/1850006263200883070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2024</a></p><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote></div></body>

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Suarez and Alba Lead Inter Miami To Historic First Ever Playoff Win

Fort Lauderdale, FL – Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba scored a goal apiece to lead Inter Miami CF to a historic first-ever playoff win, 2-1, over Atlanta United. Tata Martino’s versatile lineup left us guessing whether the team would begin in a 5-3-2, or a 4-3-3 formation. The inclusion of rookie Yannick Bright with the starters allowed Inter Miami to play with a backline of 5 where Sergio Busquets would slide in as a center-back.