MLS Cup Playoffs Round of 16: Atlanta United 3-2 Inter Miami and European Highlights
Fort Lauderdale set the stage for a brisk MLS Cup Playoffs Round of 16 clash as Atlanta United faced Inter Miami. The game moved with relentless tempo, each team chasing possession and transitions at pace that kept the crowd on edge from the opening whistle. The tempo leaned toward Atlanta early, with sharp passing sequences and quick turnovers turning into chances that threatened the Miami goal.
Jamal Tjare opened the scoring in the 19th minute and doubled the lead in the 21st, finishing off a sequence that began with a clever diagonal run and a through ball. Alexey Miranchuk, who started for Atlanta, supplied the assist on the second finish, underscoring the impact of his arrival on the team’s attacking options. The quick-fire surge gave Atlanta a valuable cushion and signaled their intent to press high and convert early pressure into a tangible advantage.
Bartosz Slisz added a decisive third in the 76th minute, finishing a buildup that stretched Inter Miami and capped a dominant display from Atlanta as they maintained their lead while the hosts pushed forward in search of a response that could alter the outcome.
The hosts answered with two goals of their own. Matias Rojas opened the scoring for Inter Miami in the 17th minute after patient buildup on the left flank, threading a precise shot past the goalkeeper. Lionel Messi then produced a timely strike in the 65th minute, finishing through a crowded penalty area to pull Miami level and keep the contest in doubt through the middle portion. Inter Miami’s response showed pace and technique around Messi, generating renewed pressure as the clock ticked on. Atlanta’s defense withstood the waves of Miami pressure, and the midfield tempo remained relentlessly high as both sides traded chances in a frantic second period.
Miranchuk started for Atlanta and delivered the assist that helped Tjare claim his second goal, underscoring the impact of his arrival on the squad’s attacking options and the balance he provided to the lineup. The victory extended Atlanta United’s winning run to three and propelled them into the MLS quarterfinals, a stage where momentum often translates into standout performances. In the next round, Atlanta would meet Orlando City, a knockout clash that adds spice to the postseason and tests the visitors’ staying power against a familiar rival.
Earlier in Europe, Liverpool hosted Aston Villa at Anfield and secured a 2-0 victory, a result that reinforced the home side’s control in the league. Liverpool maintained pressure through the opening minutes, converted two clear chances, and kept Villa at bay with disciplined pressing and a compact shape. The win signaled steady progress as the season unfolds, with balance across the back line and the midfield. Villa resisted on some counter options, but the final execution belonged to the home side, sealing a clean sheet and a valuable three points.
In the Italian Championship, Juventus secured a derby victory, reinforcing their standing and igniting the city ahead of important fixtures in the title race. The win added momentum to a campaign where every point counts, intensifying the rivalry and elevating expectations for upcoming fixtures. With the result, Juventus fans celebrated a classic showdown while the rest of the league watched closely as teams prepare for another round of matches that will shape the standings.