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4 weeks ago
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Lionel Messi had never experienced this. The Argentinian played his first playoff match in the United States with the start of the MLS Cup. And it went well for Inter Miami, which won against Atlanta (2-1) in Game 1 of this series of the 1st round of the Eastern Conference.
The meeting started perfectly for the Floridians, with the goal of platinum blonde Luis Suarez (1-0, 2nd). But Lionel Messi failed to double the lead by stumbling twice against a goalkeeper older than him, veteran Brad Guzan (40), before finding the post (29th). Under the eyes of its owner David Beckham, Inter Miami was then surprised by Saba Lobjanidze’s equalizer (1-1, 39th).
Messi didn’t score, but that doesn’t matter
In the second half, the winning goal was scored by Jordi Alba, with an astonishing long shot (2-1, 60th), on a back pass from Messi. The Argentinian found Guzan’s gloves again in the process (72nd) and did not score. But it doesn’t matter: in this playoff format, only victory counts.
Everything is in fact played out in the best of three matches, and not in the back-and-forth format that we can experience in the Champions League. If Atlanta wins in the next match, regardless of the score, a support match will be played in Miami. There is no draw, since a penalty shootout is played in the event of a tie.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
