Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are eliminated from the MLS playoffs following a surprise loss to Atlanta United

CNN
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Lionel Messi and Inter Miami suffered a surprise exit from the first round of the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs on Saturday, losing 3-2 to the No. 9 seed in the best-of-three series decider on home soil Atlanta United.

Miami midfielder Matías Rojas opened the scoring in the 17th minute, but Atlanta United struck back soon after with two goals in two minutes from striker Jamal Thiaré to take the lead at halftime.

Argentine superstar Messi tied the game at 2-2 in the 65th minute with his first goal of the playoffs, but Bartosz Slisz scored a header in the 76th minute to give Atlanta one of the biggest upsets in MLS history #1 Miami.

Miami had a record-breaking regular season, ending with a record 74 points and taking home the Supporters’ Shield. This secured the team a controversial invitation to the FIFA Club World Cup and Miami entered the playoffs as favorites to win the MLS Cup.

Miami defender Jordi Alba, who isn’t used to a soccer postseason after his career in Europe, said the playoff format “seems a little unfair.”

“It is clear that this has been done for many years, but if you ask me, if it were up to me, I would pit the champion of one conference against the champion of the other to make it as fair as possible. “That’s right,” he said, according to ESPN.

“I repeat: congratulations to the opposing team. I think they held up very well against us, they knew their weapons, the goalkeeper was spectacular… I think that’s what really makes the difference.”

Following a best-of-three format in the first round, the conference semifinals, final and MLS Cup game are all single-elimination games with overtime and penalties if necessary.

Atlanta United, which only sneaked into the playoffs on the final day of the regular season, will face No. 4 seed Orlando City in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“You can see the emotion in the players,” Atlanta interim manager Rob Valentino said. We have the owners there, all of them.

“There have been some difficult times at the club and I’m glad everyone is having a bit of joy. But I hope we’re not done yet.”

The East is now in complete disarray after the top three players were eliminated following first-round defeats by the Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati.

The MLS Cup final is scheduled for December 7th.