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

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were eliminated in the opening round of the MLS Cup Playoffs in a stunning upset, losing 3-2 at home to ninth-seeded Atlanta United on Saturday at Chase Stadium.

Analyzing Saturday’s Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United FC odds and lines, with expert MLS picks, predictions and best bets.

In a major upset, Atlanta United eliminated Inter Miami from the MLS playoffs, winning 3-2 in a thrilling Game 3. Jason Longshore is a color commentator for Atlanta United and he joined “All Things Considered” to talk about the Five Stripes’ comeback victory and what’s next for the underdog team.

Inter Miami takes on Atlanta United in Game Three of Round One in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs at Chase Stadium in a win-or-go-home match. The Herons opened up the Best-of-Three series with a 2–1 win at home as a Jordi Alba long-range strike sealed the victory for Miami.

Forward Xande Silva ’s 95th-minute goal lifted Atlanta United to a shocking 2-1 win at home Saturday in front of 68,455. Mercedes-Benz Stadium turned into a raucous atmosphere familiar to anyone who watched the team’s early years, which had formed Atlanta into a soccer city.

Two free kicks by Messi in the final minutes hit the wall of Atlanta defenders, and time eventually ran out on soccer’s most decorated player and his team.

BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta United hosts Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference finals. United is 11-10-7 against Eastern Conference opponents. United ranks third in the Eastern Conference drawing 187 corner kicks, averaging 5.5 per game.