Lobjanidze eclipses Messi as Atlanta stuns Miami in MLS

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Georgia international Saba Lobjanidze eclipsed Lionel Messi with two goals as struggling Atlanta United stunned league leaders Inter Miami 3-1 in a Major on Wednesday League Soccer.

Lobjanidze stunned a star-studded Miami lineup with two long-range strikes either side of halftime to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead.

Argentine superstar Messi threatened to inspire a comeback for the home side after scoring a goal to make it 2-1, but Atlanta restored their two-goal lead when Jamal Thiare palmed away Caleb Wiley’s cross to the 73rd minute.

While Lobjanidze grabbed glory with his brace of goals, Messi’s World Cup-winning Argentina teammate Thiago Almada was the star of the show for the visitors, scoring twice with superb individual skills and tormenting Inter’s suspect defense all night.

Despite the defeat, Miami remains on top of the Eastern Conference with 34 points in 17 games, after its closest rival, Cincinnati, also lost on Wednesday, losing 2-0 at home to Nashville.

Miami, which started Messi with former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, still struggled to gain a foothold against a dynamic Atlanta outfit that entered the match without a league win since March 31.

Atlanta gave an early warning of their offensive intent when midfielder Brooks Lennon fired a low shot just wide after just 10 minutes.

Lobjanidze gave Atlanta the lead just before halftime with a superb individual goal, darting from midfield before firing a pacey, precise shot into the top corner past Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender.

Lobjanidze, who is due to be part of Georgia’s squad for next month’s European Championship, scored his second goal in the 59th minute after a brilliant Almada trick started an Atlanta counterattack. Lobjanidze’s curling shot took a slight deflection before beating Callender.

Atlanta’s second goal brought Miami to life, and it was Messi who gave the Eastern Conference leaders a lifeline with a goal out of nowhere in the 62nd minute, racing forward and heading a low, long shot into the bottom corner.

But Atlanta continued to threaten on the counter-attack and made it 3-1 in the 73rd minute when another good play from Almada allowed Wiley to cross for Senegalese striker Thiare, who pushed in net.