Atlanta Lost Their First Match in the Round of 16 of the MLS to Inter Miami, Miranchuk Was Substituted at Half-Time

Atlanta's Unfortunate Loss

Atlanta United FC suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Inter Miami CF in the first leg of their MLS Cup Playoffs Round of 16 matchup on Monday night.

Ezequiel Barco missed a penalty kick in the first half, which could have given Atlanta an early lead. Miami took advantage of the miss and scored three unanswered goals, with Leonardo Campana, Emerson Rodriguez, and Robbie Robinson finding the back of the net.

Miranchuk's Substitution

Half-Time Substitution

Atlanta manager Gonzalo Pineda made a surprising decision to substitute Aleksei Miranchuk at halftime. The Russian midfielder had started the match but was replaced by Thiago Almada at the break.

Pineda's Explanation

Pineda explained his decision after the match, stating that Miranchuk was not at his best and that he needed to make a change to improve the team's performance.

Miranchuk's Performance

Miranchuk had a quiet first half, failing to make a significant impact on the game. He had just 19 touches of the ball and completed only 11 passes before being substituted.

Atlanta's Struggles

Atlanta's defeat extends their winless streak to five matches in all competitions. They have not won a game since September 17, when they defeated the New England Revolution 2-1.

The loss also puts Atlanta in a difficult position heading into the second leg of their playoff matchup. They will need to overcome a three-goal deficit in Miami next week to advance to the quarterfinals.

Upcoming Match

The second leg of the MLS Cup Playoffs Round of 16 matchup between Atlanta United FC and Inter Miami CF will take place on Monday, October 24, at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.