Atlanta United call out Lionel Messi after destroying Inter Miami

Atlanta United, an MLS side, have set a challenge for Inter Miami after beating them 5-2 in a league game.

The David Beckham co-owned side suffered a setback in their bid for a playoff finish yesterday when they were badly beaten by Georgian team Atlanta.

The Miami-based team started positively and even scored first from a brilliantly executed move by Leonardo Campana, but the hosts got their foothold in the game, and in the space of eight minutes towards the end of the first-half, they scored three goals.  

Campana scored from the spot to halve Atlanta's lead, making the scoreline 3-2, but it failed to inspire any sort of comeback as the hosts scored two more times, in the 76th and 89th minutes.  

Inter Miami had to brave the match against Atlanta without their club captain, Lionel Messi, who suffered a knock during the international break and hence missed the game.

This led many to chuck the defeat as due to the absence of the Argentine. Atlanta, as a reaction, took to social media to drop the gauntlet.

It is pertinent to note that a Messi-involved Inter Miami have previously played and beaten Atlanta, soundly. The Tata Martino-coached side beat the Five Stripes 4-0 in the Leagues Cup despite suffering a red card. Messi scored a brace on the day and registered an assist.