Saba Lobjanidze goals lift Atlanta United past Lionel Messi and Miami

This victory was Atlanta United’s 100th in MLS.

“The most important thing is the results,” Lobjanidze said. “I said before the match that I came here for the three points. I know the team. I know my team, we were struggling, but I still had a good feeling before the match.

Atlanta United (4-7-4) looked like a different team than one that hadn’t won since March 31. Playing in a different formation, his players were aggressive and intelligent on the ball and in their runs into space, and patiently focused. defending a Miami attack featuring standout players Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

Atlanta United became the first MLS team to beat Miami at home in a match started by Messi. This result also marked the first time since 2021 that a team from Messi’s club lost when he scored.

Atlanta United dominated Miami and former Five Stripes manager Gerardo Martino on a hot, humid night that required hydration breaks midway through the half at Chase Stadium. He outshot the Herons, 26-12, put more shots on goal, 8-5, and finished with a higher expected goals total, 3.4-0.6.

Martino said Miami’s performance was unexpected and there were no positives from the game. He said Atlanta United’s record was misleading due to injuries suffered and that the team was different when Thiago Almada played. It was his first start since injuring his calf in Cincinnati.

ExploreLearn more about Atlanta United here

Pineda’s line-up included a change of formation to three at the back and with captain Almada occupying that role for the first time, with Thiare as striker, Lobjanidze on the wing, Tristan Muyumba and Dax McCarty in midfield, Derrick Williams, Stian Gregersen. and Luis Abram as center backs, Brooks Lennon and Caleb Wiley as full backs, and Josh Cohen makes his first start in goal in place of Brad Guzan. Bartosz Slisz was unavailable due to a scheduled personal matter.

Pineda typically only selected two center backs throughout his tenure as Atlanta United coach, but with the offense struggling, Pineda chose three to try to ensure the defense was solid while still giving on offense a chance to be more vertical with wingers and wingers playing off the field. central midfielders.

Pineda wanted three midfielders to occupy the spaces that Messi and Suarez like to go into. Messi finished with one goal from four shots and Suarez had three shots. They combined to create four chances.

“The players performed incredibly well in those moments,” Pineda said.

Gregersen said the formation change helped Atlanta United stay compact defensively.

“We need them because of their strikers, they are very, very good,” Gregersen said.

Atlanta United was lively early. He patiently worked his way through the Miami defense with a sequence ending with Lennon’s shot going inches wide in the 10th minute. Atlanta United created 10 shots in the first 30 minutes, a more aggressive result than in previous matches.

Atlanta United got their reward on their 14th shot when Lobjanidze fired a 22-yard shot into the top left corner for a 1-0 lead in the 44th minute. It all started when Muyumba intercepted a pass from Sergio Busquets in Atlanta United’s half. McCarty passed it to the Lobjanidzes, who found Muyumba, who returned it to Lobjanidze. No one has decided to close it. He continued to dribble before scoring his third goal this season with his right foot. It was Muyumba’s second assist.

Atlanta United held Miami’s attack, which led MLS in goals, to three shots in the first half, none on goal. Atlanta United finished with 14 and four.

Lobjanidze struck with his left foot, still from 20 yards out, to give Atlanta United a 2-0 lead in the 59th minute. It started with Almada breaking away from four Miami players deep in the Atlanta United half by passing the ball across the field to Lennon, who passed it to Lobjanidze. Just like on the first goal, no Miami player moved to close down Lobjanidze as he worked his way into shooting position.

After the two goals, Lobjanidze celebrated by putting the ball under his jersey and putting his thumb in his mouth. He also celebrated the fact that his partner is due to have a little girl in July.

Lobjanidze said he was not surprised that on both goals he had yards of space in front of him without any defenders closing him down. He said he and Pineda talked a few days before the game about him being more aggressive in his dribbling.

Messi cut Atlanta United’s lead to 2-1 three minutes later, as Atlanta United was too slow to put pressure on him at the top of the box. His shot flew past several players before finding the bottom right corner.

Thiare extended a long right leg to tap in a Wiley cross to give Atlanta United a 3-1 lead in the 73rd minute. Almada and Wiley drove through Miami’s tired defense to set up the score.

“I think the reward is not just about today, it’s about the many games where they did really, really well, but it’s difficult to outplay some opponents and create better expected goals than the opponents, but we didn’t get the three points and you can lose confidence at some point,” Pineda said of Lobjanidze and Thiare.

Pineda replaced Noah Cobb and Edwin Mosquera for Williams and Lobjanidze, who tied Almada, Lennon and Muyumba for the team lead in chances created (3) in the 74th minute. Giorgos Giakoumakis and Jay Fortune replaced Thiare and McCarty in the 83rd minute. Ronald Hernandez replaced Almada in the 89th minute.

Atlanta United will host Charlotte on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The stadium will open at full capacity.

“I think the reward is not just about today, it’s about the many games where they did really, really well, but it’s difficult to outplay some opponents and create better expected goals than the opponents, but we didn’t get the three points and you can lose confidence at some point,” Pineda said. “So for me it was a very, big sign of a good mentality for the team. It’s also a reward for the supporters because what I really appreciated today was the corner behind the goal, it was completely filled with our fans who come here to try to motivate our players. amazing.

For more Atlanta United content

Follow me on Twitter/X @DougRobersonAJC

On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now

On Instagram at DouglasDavidRoberson

Coverage of Atlanta United on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Southern Fried Soccer podcast can be found

Apple – https://apple.co/3ISD6Ve

Spotify – https://spoti.fi/3L8TN0C

Google Podcasts – https://bit.ly/32KlZW3

If you’re a first time listener, follow us on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast…and if you like what you hear, give us a good rating so we can grow the show. If you have any questions about the MLS team, you can email Doug Roberson at [email protected]send him a private message on Twitter @dougrobersonajc or call 404-526-2527.

Stay up to date with breaking news, in-depth investigations, politics, sports, entertainment, food and more every day by becoming a subscriber to the AJC. Go to AJC.com/start for a very special offer and unlock hundreds of original articles published daily on the refreshed AJC.com site and new AJC mobile app. Plus, get access to our breaking news alerts, subscriber-only events, AJC original shows, movies and videos, newsletters and more.

Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule

February 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0

March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1

March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0

March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0

March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0

April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1

April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2

April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1

April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1

May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1

May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in US Open Cup

May 11 DC United 3, Atlanta United 2

May 15 Cincinnati 1, Atlanta United 0

May 18 Atlanta United 1, Nashville 1

May 21 Atlanta United 0 (5), Charleston 0 (4) in US Open Cup

May 25 LAFC 1, Atlanta United 0

May 29 Atlanta United 3, Miami 1

June 2 vs. Charlotte, 4:30 p.m., FOX

June 15 vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m.

June 19 at DC United, 7:30 p.m.

June 22 in Saint-Louis, 8:30 p.m.

June 29 c. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

July 3 at New England, 7:30 p.m.

July 6 at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m.

July 13 in Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

July 17 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.

July 20 against Columbus, 7:30 p.m.

July 26 against DC United in the League Cup, 7:30 p.m.

August 4 against Santos Laguna in the League Cup, 4 p.m.

August 24 at LA Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.

August 31 in Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.

September 14 vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m.

September 18 against Miami, 7:30 p.m.

September 21 at the Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

September 28 in Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

October 2 c. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

October 5 against Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

October 19 in Orlando, 6 p.m.