Despite a goal from Lionel Messi, Inter Miami was shocked to lose in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.

 

Atlanta United won 3-2 in the best-of-three decider in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, while Miami finished the regular season with a record 74 points from 34 games in the Eastern Conference. 

Miami took the lead with Matias Rojas' rebound after Aston Villa keeper Brad Guzan denied Messi. 

Atlanta scored twice in two minutes, and despite Messi equalizing with a header, Bartosz Slisz scored the winner as Miami appealed for play to be stopped due to injury.

Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, has been named one of the 32 sides in next year's Fifa Club World Cup. 

Fifa president Gianni Infantino praised Miami's status as one of the 32 best clubs in the world. In December, Miami signed Uruguay striker Luiz Suarez, reuniting him with former Barcelona team-mates Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. Atlanta, which finished ninth in the Eastern Conference, qualified for the play-offs after beating Montreal on penalties.

Atlanta will face Orlando City in the semi-finals, while New York City will face New York Red Bulls. The winners will face the Eastern Conference winners in the Eastern Conference final, who will play the Western Conference play-off champions in the MLS Cup final on 7 December. 

Miami manager Gerardo Martino expressed disappointment with the team's performance in the play-offs, stating that they came up short of expectations. 

Miami defender Alba criticized the MLS Cup format as "a bit unfair," suggesting that it should be the champion of one conference against the champion of the other to make it more fair.