Messi, Casemiro and Embolo Steal the Show as Inter Miami and Atlanta United Share the Points in a 2-2 Thriller ( Image collected)

Messi, Casemiro and Embolo Steal the Show as Inter Miami and Atlanta United Share the Points in a 2-2 Thriller

Major League Soccer served up one of its most star-studded nights of the season on Saturday, as Inter Miami CF and Atlanta United traded blows in a pulsating 2-2 draw at Nu Stadium. The match had almost everything a neutral could ask for: a lightning delay that pushed kickoff back by an hour and a half, two penalty kicks, a bizarre defensive mix-up, a debut goal from a freshly signed World Cup star, and — inevitably, given the names involved — Lionel Messi at the center of the biggest moments. Messi set up both of Miami's goals as the reigning MLS champions were held to a share of the spoils in the Argentine star's first match since announcing his retirement from international football.

A Delayed Kickoff, Then Fireworks

Messi, Casemiro and Embolo Steal the Show as Inter Miami and Atlanta United Share the Points in a 2-2 Thriller ( Image colleted)

Thunderstorms and lightning in South Florida pushed the start of the match back by roughly ninety minutes, testing the patience of a crowd that had come out expecting to see two of the league's most talked-about attacking forces collide. Once the players finally took the field, the action more than made up for lost time. With Messi playing his first game since stepping away from international duty with Argentina, and Atlanta's newly signed Swiss international Breel Embolo making his competitive MLS bow, the storyline potential was obvious well before a ball was kicked. What followed was a genuine four-goal spectacle that swung back and forth deep into stoppage time.

Inter Miami's interim manager sent out a strong XI featuring the spine that has carried the club through much of the campaign. Dayne St. Clair started in goal behind a back four of Ian Fray, Casemiro, Maximiliano Falcón and Fricio Caicedo, while Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright and Telasco Segovia lined up across midfield, with captain Messi, Germán Berterame and Luis Suárez leading the attack. Notably, Caicedo — an 18-year-old Ecuadorean — was making his first career start at left back for Miami, a decision that would come back to matter late in the game.

On the opposite side, Atlanta boss Gerardo "Tata" Martino — a familiar face to Miami supporters given his own history managing the Herons — sent his side out with Embolo spearheading the attack. Asked before kickoff whether facing Messi so soon after their dramatic World Cup meeting carried any extra edge, the Swiss forward struck a diplomatic tone, brushing off any notion of revenge and saying it was simply a pleasure and a fresh challenge to line up against the game's greatest player.

Casemiro Breaks the Deadlock — Then Nearly Undoes It

It didn't take long for the game's headline connection to click. In the 32nd minute, Messi and Casemiro combined for the opener: Messi swung in a corner that Casemiro powered home with a header to give Inter Miami the lead. It was the second consecutive match in which the Brazilian midfielder — now deployed out of position as a makeshift center back for Miami — had gotten on the scoresheet.

The celebration was short-lived. Just three minutes later, Atlanta drew level. Former Newcastle forward Miguel Almirón blasted home a low shot to equalize for the visitors. The buildup to that goal had an unusual wrinkle: Casemiro was directly involved in gifting Atlanta the chance, inadvertently steering a cross back toward his own goal. St. Clair managed to keep the ball out of the net, but the loose rebound fell kindly for Almirón, who made no mistake in leveling the score at 1-1 before the first half had even finished.

Suárez Restores the Lead Before the Break

Miami didn't take long to respond. Messi had already gone close to adding to the scoreline himself, rattling the crossbar with a free kick, before turning provider once more. Suárez restored Miami's lead in first-half stoppage time, skipping past Atlanta's defense before rolling the ball into the net at the end of a move down the left that Messi had originally started. It was a trademark piece of composed finishing from the Uruguayan, whose 12th goal of the MLS season sent the home side into halftime back in front.

For a team that has spent the year hunting for consistency, the sight of Messi, Casemiro and Suárez all directly involved in goals inside the opening 45 minutes was exactly the kind of firepower Miami has leaned on all season.

Two Penalties, One Big Save, and a Debut to Remember

The second half turned into a story of penalties. Atlanta thought they had a route back into the game in the 73rd minute when VAR intervened after a goal-line scramble, ruling that Casemiro had made contact with Almirón's leg inside the box. It was a golden opportunity for the visitors to level for a second time — and, this time, it didn't come off.

Almirón stepped up and struck his effort with his left foot, only for St. Clair to produce what was described as his best save since joining the club this season. The stop sent the home crowd into relief and prompted a roar from the Canadian goalkeeper as his teammates mobbed him in celebration. St. Clair's timing was notable given his own up-and-down season, having briefly lost his starting spot earlier in the year before reclaiming the gloves.

The save looked, for a while, like it might be the moment that secured all three points for Miami. But Atlanta kept pushing, and in the 87th minute they were handed a second, decisive chance: Caicedo, the young left back making his first career start, was penalized for a foul on Embolo inside the box. This time there would be no reprieve for Miami's goalkeeper.

Embolo stayed ice-cool from the spot, sending his penalty inside the right post past St. Clair to convert on his MLS debut and snatch a share of the spoils for Atlanta. It was a fitting cap to a whirlwind few weeks for the Swiss international, who had signed with the club in late August. The finish carried extra symbolism given his history with Argentina: his last competitive appearance before Saturday had come in the World Cup quarterfinals, where he was controversially sent off before Argentina eventually beat Switzerland in extra time. His first MLS goal, fittingly, came against a Miami side featuring both Messi and Rodrigo De Paul.

Embolo even had a chance to complete a remarkable late turnaround, seeing a stoppage-time effort for a potential debut-day winner sail high. On the other end, Messi was denied a dramatic winner of his own, seeing two separate late chances blocked by desperate Atlanta defending in the closing stages.

Reaction and Context

Unsurprisingly, the two penalty decisions dominated the post-match conversation. Miami's interim manager did not hide his frustration with the officiating on the second spot kick, reiterating his disagreement with how the call was made — a pointed comment given how costly the decision proved for his side's hopes of a first-place finish.

The result leaves both clubs in contrasting positions in the standings. Miami dropped points for the 11th time this season and now sit ten points off first place in the Eastern Conference, while Atlanta remain second from the bottom of the table. Even so, Atlanta will take real encouragement from the underlying numbers: the draw moved the club to a record of 6-13-4 for 22 points, and Atlanta are now unbeaten in four of their last five matches — a marked improvement in form under Tata Martino. On the other side, Miami sit at 12-4-7 for 43 points, still comfortably one of the league's top sides despite Saturday's late setback.

Individually, Messi's night ended without a goal of his own, snapping a hot streak — he was held scoreless one game after producing his first four-goal performance in MLS — though his passing masterclass, a corner and a buildup pass leading directly to both Miami goals, was arguably just as influential as any finish could have been.

For Atlanta, the story of the night belonged to Embolo. Signing a marquee international forward mid-season is always a gamble, but delivering a decisive goal on debut, against the league's glamour club, immediately buys goodwill with a fanbase desperate for good news in a difficult campaign. Combined with Almirón's continued reliability in front of goal and St. Clair's heroics on the earlier penalty, Atlanta's away performance suggested a team finding form at exactly the right time of year.

Miami, meanwhile, will have to shake off the frustration quickly. With the MLS playoff picture tightening and the club still chasing top spot in the East, dropping points at home to a side battling toward the bottom of the table is the kind of result that could matter come the postseason. Their next assignment sees them hit the road for midweek action, giving Messi, Suárez and company a quick chance to put Saturday's late collapse behind them.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What was the final score between Inter Miami and Atlanta United? The match finished 2-2, with Inter Miami and Atlanta United sharing the points at Nu Stadium after a dramatic, back-and-forth contest.

2. Who scored the goals in the match? Casemiro and Luis Suárez scored for Inter Miami, while Miguel Almirón and Breel Embolo were on target for Atlanta United, with Embolo's coming from a late penalty.

3. Did Lionel Messi score in the game? No. Messi didn't get on the scoresheet himself, recording one assist instead, one match after his first four-goal outing in MLS. He was still heavily involved, setting up both of Miami's goals.

4. What made Breel Embolo's goal so notable? It came on his MLS debut, just weeks after signing with Atlanta in late August, and arrived against a Miami side that included Messi, whose Argentina side had eliminated Embolo's Switzerland at the World Cup a few months earlier.

5. Why was kickoff delayed for this match? Thunderstorms and lightning in the area pushed the start of the match back by around ninety minutes before play finally got underway at Nu Stadium.

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