March 17, (THEWILL) – Atlanta United failed to return to winning form despite ending their scoring drought, suffering a 2-1 defeat against Inter Miami in the wee hours of Monday.
The loss leaves the Five Stripes with one win, two draws and one loss record and four points from their opening four MLS matches.
Head Coach Ronny Deila fielded a strong starting XI, with Brooks Lennon making his 200th career start at right back.
The offensive unit featured Alexey Miranchuk, Saba Lobjanidze, Miguel Almiron, and Emmanuel Latte Lath. Atlanta struck first when Lennon delivered a cross to Latte Lath, who headed home in the 10th minute to give the hosts an early advantage.
The lead proved short-lived, however, with Lionel Messi capitalising on a defensive error to equalise for Inter Miami just 10 minutes later.
Both teams generated multiple opportunities throughout the remainder of the match, with Atlanta recording 12 shots, the same exact number as Miami.
The decisive moment came when Fafà Picault’s header found its way past goalkeeper Brad Guzan, giving the visitors a 2-1 victory.
The defeat continues Atlanta’s difficult start to the 2025 campaign, with fan frustration mounting over inconsistent performances despite the talent within the squad.
They will look to improve their fortunes when they travel to face FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on Saturday, 22 March.
Both the coaching staff and players will need to address defensive lapses and offensive efficiency if they hope to climb the Eastern Conference standings, where Miami currently sits at the top..
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
