Miami, FL - In his Atlanta United and MLS debut, Swiss striker Breel Embolo faces off vs. Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami. The last time Embolo played a competitive match in the United States was in a World Cup quarterfinal match vs. Argentina. He was subject to the second most infamous red card of the tournament, one which the International Football Association Board (IFAB) later acknowledged should not have been given. He has been subject to many, many questions about that moment since his return. Today's match saw Embolo earn and score the penalty that led to an important road point against a good Miami team.
Atlanta lined up in a 4-2-3-1 with Lucas Hoyos in goal and defenders Tomás Jacob, Paulo Diaz, Júnior Alonso, Elías Báez. Homegrown defensive midfielders Cooper Sanchez and Will Reilly in a double pivot. Attackers Aleksey Miranchuk, Tristan Muyumba, and captain Miguel Almirón. Closing out the 11 is the new designated player and striker Breel Embolo. This is a near full-strength lineup, although one should expect new signing Mauricio Amaro to be part of any best 11 that head coach Tata Martino eventually settles on for the remainder of 2026.
The reigning MLS champions Miami used their standard 4-3-3 setup with Dayne St. Clair between the sticks. Defenders Ian Fray, Casemiro, Maximiliano Falcón, and Fricio Caicedo. Midfielders Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright, and Telasco Segovia. Attackers Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Germán Berterame. They have 5 players out injured, including two first-choice centerbacks Gonzalo Luján and Micael as well as starting left-back Sergio Reguilón.
The match kicked off 90’ late due to thunderstorms and flooding in the Miami area. Miami started off the match as 74% betting favorites to win all 3 points. They wasted no time getting forward and pinning back Atlanta with all 11 players in their third of the pitch. Some sloppy clearances kept Atlanta on the backfoot. Momentum changed 10’ into the match when Almiron was able to cross the ball to Embolo for his first chance toward goal. The ball was cleared with an overhead kick by Casemiro. Miami’s makeshift backline came prepared. Embolo was double-teamed nearly every time he saw the ball inside the 18-yard box.
A huge chance was missed when Almirón set up Muyumba for a shot that was played just over the crossbar. The first booking occurred 28’ into the match when Miami’s Falcón tackled Embolo, preventing a counterattacking opportunity. Moments later at 32’ Casemiro scored a fantastic header from just outside the 6-yard box. Atlanta immediately answered when Almiron scored a tap-in goal after a series of blunders from the Miami defense. Will Rielly found Miranchuk with a great switch of play. Miranchuk moved it forward to Báez, who was in the top corner of the box. Báez played a low cross to Almirón, which was intercepted by Casemiro, who played it awkwardly toward the keeper, St. Clair, who bobbled the ball into the feet of Almirón for the equalizing goal.
Sanchez saw the second booking of the game when he made a strong tackle on Suárez. This set up the second big set piece chance for Messi, center of the goal about 30 yards out. He nearly hits a wonder goal, but Atlanta is saved by the woodwork. Hoyos was tracking the ball well, but if the ball had been on frame, it likely would have slipped in. Sanchez moments later, had a hard head-to-head collision with Berterame. After being checked for concussion, he reentered play to boos from the Miami fans. The 18-year-old played fearlessly tonight, despite spending the better part of the game with a yellow card, he was relentlessly pressing with high energy and did not shy away from leaning into a tackle on the MLS superstar team.
At 45+1’Luis Suárez took advantage of the Atlanta defense, dribbling through 3 defenders to easily slot the ball past Hoyos in a 1v1 that always favored the striker. The Atlanta defense was in shape to stop this but seemingly checked out at exactly the wrong moment.
After halftime, Miami used their first substitution, taking Falcón off for Mura. Within moments of the kickoff, Diaz received the second yellow card for Atlanta when he stopped an attack by Berterame. Embolo linked up with Sanchez, which was played out for a corner kick. Sanchez ended up holding his hamstrings when he stopped his run. He attempted to run it off, but the pain seemed to catch up to him, and he was subbed for Amaro. At the same time, Reilly was subbed for Alzate.
58’ into the game, Caicedo saw yellow for a hard and late tackle on Embolo. This setup Atlanta for a set piece, which Alzate took and was easily handled by Miami. 62’ St. Clair received a yellow for time wasting. When he did take the kick, he sent the ball the entire length of the field, where Berterame had the ball in a very dangerous position, but a great tackle by Jacob prevents his attack from finishing.
66’ Jacob is subbed off for homegrown right back Matt Edwards. Jacob played well, often finding himself in a more advanced position than Miranchuk. Miami subbed out Segovia for homegrown player Alexander Shaw. Moments later, a blocked shot by Almirón deflects kindly to Miranchuk who was springing onto the bouncing ball. Almiron’s shot was reviewed by VAR and deemed to be a penalty by Casemiro for a studs-up tackle on Almirón’s thigh. Miami’s De Paul received a yellow for dissent, protesting the penalty being given. Almirón took the penalty, low and to the right, but it was saved by St. Clair who seemed to know exactly where it was going to go.
Atlanta continued the pressure to equalize the game with debuting U-22 midfielder Mauricio Amaro taking multiple shots. Miami was pressed back by Atlanta for much of the final 20’. Miami seemed out of gas, and Atlanta’s bench provided the energy and willingness to bring the game to the champions. Embolo attempted many times to link up with his team. Martino used his last substitution to replace Muyumba with Picault to provide Embolo another target in the box. At 84’ Embolo was taken down for a penalty. Picault played a pass to Embolo who was taken down recklessly by Caicedo. This time Embolo takes the penalty he earned. With a short run-up, he toe-pokes it past St. Clair’s left. Scoring his first MLS goal on his debut from the spot.
With two minutes left in stoppage, Hoyos made the save of the match by stretching his left foot out to stop a determined Messi shot going for the corner. Atlanta kept their focus, unlike the first half stoppage time, and saw the match out to gain a road point against one of the best teams in MLS. Hoyos made two fantastic saves from corner kicks. Berterame missed the last chance of the game, sending a header over the crossbar.
Atlanta’s substitutions made the difference today. When Miami ran out of steam, Atlanta never used the handbrake. Miami’s makeshift backline was shaky. The penalties they conceded were due to players not being familiar with their responsibilities. If Atlanta plays like this for the remainder of the season, they may struggle against teams who can maintain their stamina, but it could be entertaining soccer once again in Atlanta.