Crowd of 68,455 goes wild as Atlanta United upsets Inter Miami 2-1, forces playoff Game 3

Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates, who dominated Major League Soccer all season and entered the playoffs as the record-breaking top seed, find themselves in danger of elimination after a shocking 2-1 road loss in extra time to Atlanta United on Saturday night.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium was opened to full capacity and a crowd of 68,455 showed up for Game 2 in the best-of-three first-round series, the fifth-largest post-season crowd in league history.

Messi was held scoreless, but the fans got their money’s worth as Portuguese winger Xande Silva came off the bench and scored the game winner for Atlanta in the fourth minute of stoppage time, stunning heavily favored Miami and forcing a decisive Game 3. Atlanta’s trademark train horn blasted, celebratory smoke filled the air, a deafening roar followed Silva’s goal and then the crowd began chanting “A-T-L! A-T-L!” and waving the giveaway “404” towels.

“It was everything I dreamed it would be, an unbelievable moment,” said Atlanta interim coach Rob Valentine, whose underdog team had squeaked into the playoffs as a wild card. “It was so loud after we scored the goal, and walking back to the half line I was trying to recompose myself.”

Game 3 will be Saturday at 8 p.m. at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The winner of the series will advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals and face the winner of the Round One matchup between Charlotte FC and Orlando City.

“It stings anytime you lose a game in stoppage time,” said Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender. “We had a good opportunity to take it in two games, but unfortunately we have a third game at home and that’s what we’re going to focus on now.”

Miami coach Tata Martino added: “We did a lot of good things in the match. In the final 10 minutes we chased the win with four attackers. Atlanta with fewer chances and less possession of the ball winds up winning. We were even feeling optimistic about our chances if we went to penalty kicks...At no point did I feel we lost control of the game.”

Martino has faith in his team heading into Game 3.

“We have the advantage of many high caliber players who have been through more difficult situations than this,” Martino said. “We also have a way of playing that has never changed. We wanted everything to finish [Saturday], but I am satisfied with how they played, but frustrated with the result.”

Miami’s record-setting regular season record of 74 points and the Supporters’ Shield trophy gave the team home field advantage, but did not guarantee victories, Callender said.

“Once it gets to the playoffs, everything resets,” the goalkeeper said. “There’s opportunities for teams whether you get in as an eight or nine seed or the number one seed. It’s up for grabs...They were fighting for their lives [Saturday night] because it could have been the end of their playoff run and got out with a good result.”

Atlanta defender Derrick Williams scored the equalizing goal on a set-piece header in the 58th minute, igniting the audience that had been subdued after Miami took a first-half lead. The cross came from Pedro Amador.

Downtown Atlanta was buzzing Saturday night as Billie Eilish had a concert at State Farm Arena, next door to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Between them, Eilish and Messi have 624 million Instagram followers, and their diehard followers were out in full force.

Most of the soccer fans wore Atlanta colors, but there were noticeable patches of No. 10 Messi shirts in Inter Miami pink, Argentine sky blue and white, and Barcelona stripes. And even some of the new aqua retro Inter Miami jerseys, which the team wore for the second time on Saturday night.

Miami took the lead in the 40^th minute on an opportunistic goal by center back David Martinez with an assist by Fede Redondo. Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan, coming off a spectacular eight-save Game 1 last weekend, tripped outside the box, Redondo slipped the ball to Martinez, who chipped it past the Atlanta back line into the empty net.

The crowd booed as Inter Miami players celebrated.

Miami led 1-0 at halftime. Inter Miami was unbeaten this season after scoring the first goal (13 wins, 0 losses, 3 ties).

Among the Messi fans in attendance were Jessica and Eric Garfias, their children Elias (7) and Genesis (9), and their nephew Aiden (7). They are Paraguayan Americans and huge fans of Messi. The children carried home-made “Let’s Go Messi!” posters.

“Elias just started playing soccer, Messi is his biggest idol, and today they won their first game, so we got tickets for the whole family,” Jessica Garfias said. “This is really exciting to be able to see him in person.”

Messi, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba were in the starting lineup for Inter Miami Saturday. But the fourth former Barcelona star, midfielder Sergio Busquets, did not travel. According to Martino, Busquets suffered a hit during the previous game and also had early-stage pneumonia and a fever. He did not train all week. He was feeling a little better Saturday and the team hopes to have him back next week.

The rest of the Miami starting XI included Callender; defenders Marcelo Weigandt, Tomas Aviles, Martinez, Noah Allen; midfielders Redondo, Diego Gomez, and Yannick Bright, who suffered a hamstring injury in the first half and was replaced by Cremaschi at the start of the second half. Bright’s tenacious defense has been critical this season, and might have helped prevent Atlanta’s tying goal.

Asked how the absence of Busquets and Bright’s injury affected the team, Callender said: “You’re talking about two players who played a lot of minutes and give us different elements in how we defend. Sergio is so good on the ball, leadership, he’s calm, makes good decisions. Yannick is just a wall. He’s a tank. Makes very decisive defensive plays and good passes forward. So, to lose them was tough, but we have to adapt.”

Matias Rojas replaced Gomez at the 84-minute mark and Leo Campana replaced Allen.

Before the game, Valentine said: “I’m already buzzing about what that place is going to be like. My message to the team was that these people are waiting to cheer for you, you’ve been three on the road to finish into the playoffs and you can feel the buzz getting back for them. Even all the people coming to see Messi, no problem. I love it, because eventually, like last time when things were going well, they were also cheering [for us]. I get it, come to see the superstars, come and see our team fight and compete but these boys aren’t done yet.”

No, they’re not.

Tickets for Game 3 at Chase Stadium Saturday are available through TicketMaster.