Atlanta United at Inter Miami, Game Three: Community player ratings

Still reeling from Saturday’s stunning performance from Atlanta United? You’re not alone.

The Five Stripes’ thrilling 3-2 victory to eliminate Inter Miami from the MLS Cup Playoffs grabbed headlines around the globe and became an instant candidate for the most iconic performance in the team’s history. Platitudes poured in for an Atlanta United squad that spent the majority of the season receiving quite the opposite, yet pulled off the biggest upset in league history as the latest result of surging playoff form that has now propelled Atlanta through to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Here’s how y’all rated the Atlanta United squad after an iconic match. Scores come from the average of the responses to the form in our match recap.

Community Player Ratings:

Brad Guzan: 9.57 (Man of the Match)

If not for Brad Guzan, there wouldn’t be any celebrating right now. If not for Brad Guzan, this game probably wouldn’t even have been played to begin with. If his legacy wasn’t already cemented with Atlanta United, it’s now more solid than Stone Mountain. Seven total saves, denying the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Jordi Alba, made sure this match wasn’t being talked about in a much different way. It’s a deservedly high rating for a deserved Man of the Match.

Pedro Amador: 9.07

Playoff Amador gonna playoff Amador. Pedro notched another assist (the match winner), created two big chances from his left wingback role, and went a perfect three-for-three in his tackles. What a find he’s turned out to be.

Derrick Williams: 8.00

It was a busy day for Atlanta’s backline in a defense that faced 28 shots from an increasingly threatened Inter Miami, which includes the middle of the three center backs, Derrick Williams. Williams was 94% accurate on his passes, made six clearances and three recoveries, and even connected on a wide header towards goal.

Luis Abram: 7.25

Continuing along the back line, Abram didn’t have quite as good a day as Williams, but was still plenty busy under Miami’s attacking pressure. Abram wasn’t quick enough to get to Guzan’s parry on Inter’s first goal, didn’t make any tackles, and lost five out of six duels. However, he did come up big to block a Miami volley in first half stoppage to keep Atlanta ahead at the break.

Ronald Hernandez: 6.79

Ronald Hernandez never claimed to be an adept center back. However, he’s stepped up to the call in this series after injuries to Stian Gregersen and Brooks Lennon, and has done the job well enough to see Atlanta on to the next round. He did get burned by Diego Gomez on an apparent Miami equalizer that was then overturned for offside, but it at least won’t show up on the stat sheet. He did have trouble keeping Messi from winning a header for Miami’s second, though, which is never great. Four interceptions, three blocks, five clearances. Job done.

Dax McCarty: 8.78

Dax’s career simply refuses to die, giving everything left in the tank for however long it has left. And give it did on Saturday, bringing a steady performance to the midfield where he was even able to provide spark to the attack, providing two key passes within minutes of each other to give Atlanta United their massive two goal turnaround. It was a shame to only get to see 60 minutes of Dax, who made the entire team better with his presence.

Bartosz Slisz: 8.51

Bartek, alongside Dax, was integral to Atlanta United’s performance, solidifying the center of the pitch where he won four of five tackles. Slisz’s run into the box and thunderous header in the 76th minute proved to be the series clinching goal for the Five Stripes, capping off a terrific performance for the Polish midfielder.

Tristan Muyumba: 6.75

Tristan Muyumba had a fairly quiet hour of play, winning his one tackle attempt while being dispossessed three times. It’s an unfortunately characteristic performance of late, and the role is clearly Jay Fortune’s at the moment. Still, Muyumba was able to help circulate Atlanta’s possession, having an 85% pass accuracy on the day.

Saba Lobjanidze: 7.83

Cast into a new wingback role in this series, Saba has made his high workrate lead the way, darting down the wing, cutting inside, and chasing down clearances all over creation. Saba created two chances (and had a particularly ugly cross attempt), and didn’t have much going for him on his shots. Still, he was a menace to a slower Miami team in transition moments, and dangerous on the ball, completing two of three dribble attempts.

Alexey Miranchuk: 7.84

Alexey didn’t come into the squad flying out of the gate, yet has grown gradually into his role as the team’s lone true Designated Player. Miranchuk played puppetmaster in Atlanta’s attacks, putting seven passes into the attacking third and contributing a lovely assist for Jamal Thiare’s second goal. Miranchuk created two chances, and played a great complimentary role to the striker position.

Jamal Thiare: 9.46

Oh, Jamal. What a match to have a standout performance in. Coming into Saturday night, Jamal Thiare had scored only two goals in league play since the end of June. After a shot of his bounced off the post, Miami went ahead first, which has never a great sign for Atlanta throughout the year. Thiare was able to flip the script entirely on its head with an immediate response only two minutes later, running on to a deflected McCarty pass and ripping a first time half volley past Drake Callender to level the match. Was he done there? Absolutely not. Jamal was back in Miami’s 18 only a couple minutes after, thumping Miranchuk’s perfect square pass into the back of the net to take the lead. It was an amazing match for the striker, who would’ve gotten Man of the Match honors if not for the godlike performance on the other end of the field by Guzan.

Jay Fortune (Sub 59′): 7.04

Fortune came on for Muyumba at the hour mark and had a sharp 30 minutes, going 10/10 on passes and 3/4 on dribbles. It’s his spot in midfield to lose.

Stian Gregersen (Sub 60′): 6.68

Hoping for some more defensive stability to protect a one goal lead, enter Stian Gregersen… only to lose out on a jump ball to 5′-7″ Lionel Messi minutes later to even the game. Gregersen recovered enough to go on to win four of five duels in his half hour of play, adding two blocks and four clearances to secure the win.

Daniel Rios (Sub 77′): 5.27

Coming on in place of two goal hero Jamal Thiare, Daniel Rios had a gift of a chance to slam Inter Miami’s coffin shut in the 85th minute. His first time volley was… not ideal, scuffing the ball and sending it rolling into the arms of Callender. Oof.

Xande Silva (Sub 77′): 6.81

Xande came on at the same time as Rios, and played the aforementioned gift to him from the left side with the outside of his boot, a perfectly weighted ball. Silva continues to be a threat off the bench, an enormously valuable role to have in these do-or-die knockout matches.

Noah Cobb (Sub 90+1′): 6.96

Defender Noah Cobb came on in place of Alexey Miranchuk as the final sub to help Atlanta United see out stoppage time, and boy did he. The 19 year old Homegrown made a clutch, series-saving goal line clearance only seconds after joining the action to keep Miami from another equalizer. Thank you, Noah.

Rob Valentino: 9.42

Rob Valentino has worked some magic. Inheriting a despondent squad as the interim manager, Valentino has been able to restore a sense of belief and confidence that Atlanta United hasn’t had in years. Sneaking into the playoffs, knocking out the greatest regular season team in MLS history, advancing to the Conference Semifinal, all with a team most had left for dead? It’s absurd. It’s no wonder Rob has worked himself firmly into the conversation to remain at the helm come 2025.