Lobjanidze Outshines Messi as Atlanta Upsets MLS Leaders Miami

Georgia international Saba Lobjanidze overshadowed Lionel Messi by scoring twice, leading struggling Atlanta United to a stunning 3-1 victory over league leaders Inter Miami in Major League Soccer on Wednesday.

Lobjanidze shocked the star-studded Miami lineup with two long-range goals, one on either side of halftime, propelling Atlanta to a 2-0 lead.

Argentina superstar Messi sparked hopes of a comeback for the home side by scoring to make it 2-1, but Atlanta regained their two-goal advantage when Jamal Thiare slotted in Caleb Wiley’s cross in the 73rd minute.

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While Lobjanidze took the spotlight with his brace, Messi’s World Cup-winning Argentina teammate Thiago Almada was the standout performer for the visitors, setting up two goals with superb individual skill and constantly troubling Inter’s shaky defense throughout the match.

Despite the defeat, Miami remains at the top of the Eastern Conference with 34 points from 17 games, as their nearest rivals Cincinnati also lost on Wednesday, falling 2-0 at home to Nashville.

Miami, featuring Messi along with former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, struggled to gain control against a lively Atlanta side that hadn’t won a league match since March 31st.

Atlanta signaled their attacking intent early, with midfielder Brooks Lennon sending a low shot just wide after only 10 minutes.

Lobjanidze gave Atlanta the lead just before halftime with a brilliant individual effort, driving forward from midfield and launching a powerful, precise shot into the top corner past Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender.

Lobjanidze, set to be part of Georgia’s squad for next month’s European Championship, netted his second goal at the 59-minute mark after Almada’s impressive trickery initiated an Atlanta counter-attack. Lobjanidze’s curling shot took a slight deflection before beating Callender.

Miami was jolted into action by the second Atlanta goal, and it was Messi who offered the Eastern Conference leaders a glimmer of hope with a goal out of nothing in the 62nd minute, advancing and firing a low, long-range shot into the bottom corner.

However, Atlanta continued to pose a threat on the counter-attack and secured their 3-1 lead in the 73rd minute when more excellent play from Almada enabled Wiley to cross for Senegalese striker Thiare, who prodded the ball into the net.