Once again, it’s matchday.
This time, a pair of depleted squads due to the current international break located on very different ends of the Eastern Conference table square off in a rescheduled fixture originally supposed to be played on June 28th. It was always going to be a tough matchup with Inter Miami no matter when, but at this time, in these circumstances… it’s a long shot.
A lot has happened since June 28th, nearly three and a half months ago. Hardly anything has been a win for Atlanta United, who have added only one victory since then in a nosedive out of playoff contention.
Where the Five Stripes are now only fighting for the coveted Wooden Spoon, Inter Miami are in the thick of the playoff seeding scrum, battling FC Cincinnati between second and third place in the standings. I don’t need to mention the fact of Inter Miami leading the league in goals, big chances, etc. thanks to the obvious factor of one Lionel Messi because…
We’re in the middle of an international break! Throwing an added wrinkle (or maybe more of an entire fold) into the mix, both sides are missing scores of their best players thanks to good ol’ fashioned MLS scheduling. Between injuries and call-ups, Atlanta United is missing as many as *twelve* players from their roster coming into this match. Miami, meanwhile, has nine players listed as out for this one. It’s a battle of nothing more than roster depths in, for Miami at least, a crucial stage of the season.
In an interesting twist, however, Lionel Messi will be available to play for Inter Miami, as he was released from the Argentina camp temporarily in order to play against Atlanta tonight. He missed last night’s match with Venezuela, but will return for their match against Puerto Rico, which was recently moved to Chase Stadium from Soldier Field in Chicago. Is Messi’s desire for the Golden Boot weighing in here? Who’s to say?
On the bright side, absences mean changes for a lineup that hasn’t seen much rotation since Atlanta was officially eliminated from playoff contention almost a month prior. In what we’ve come to dub the 2026 preseason, it’s a chance for some of the lesser utilized players on Atlanta United’s roster to show some reason for them to remain through the offseason turnover this team sorely needs. Players like Cayman Togashi and Leo Afonso, Homegrown products like Dominik Chong-Qui, and whoever else may get a Short-Term deal can get their shot at proving their value to the team.
We’ll see whether or not that sparks anything in this team, or if Atlanta will inch closer to a Wooden Spoon battle to close the season out with D.C. United next week.
Kickoff tonight in Fort Lauderdale is set for a 7:40 PM ET start this time, with streaming available as usual on Apple TV+ and with your ususal MLS Season Pass subscription. Radio coverage is provided in English on 92.9 The Game and in Spanish on La Mejor.
Atlanta United’s Lineup:
Inter Miami’s Lineup:
How to Watch:
Venue: Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Kickoff Time: Saturday, October 11th; 7:40 PM ET
Available TV/Streaming: Apple TV+, Apple TV (with MLS Season Pass Subscription)
Available Radio: 92.9 The Game, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
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Three strikers, y’all!
Gregersen going down holding his hamstring…you got to be kidding me
Why he unfortunately cannot be a reasonable option for us.
I think if Deila needs to go, then Atlanta also needs to go ahead am fire the entire training staff. We have had so many injuries this season, so clearly we have a bad conditioning program.
That’s been for a few years now, even. Though also this year they’ve been particularly bad about not having the energy to make it through a full 90
Made of glass.
How is Miami depleted? They’re missing two guys to injury.
Because they’re old.
so I was correct about the two forwards. Thiare and Latte starting up top in a 3-5-2. Good to see two young guys get a run against Messi and company
This just can’t be taken seriously as a professional league. And why was this rescheduled?
Miami
OUT: Allen Obando (left hamstring)
OUT: David Ruiz (left hamstring)
Atlanta
OUT: Miguel Almirón (international duty)
OUT: Luke Brennan (international duty)
OUT: Matt Edwards (hamstring)
OUT: Jay Fortune (foot)
OUT: Ronald Hernández (international duty)
OUT: Brooks Lennon (Achilles tendinitis)
OUT: Saba Lobjanidze (international duty)
OUT: Enea Mihaj (international duty)
OUT: Alexey Miranchuk (international duty)
OUT: Will Reilly (hamstring)
OUT: Nyk Sessock (illness)
OUT: Bartosz Slisz (international duty)
https://www.mlssoccer.com/league-reports/player-availability-report/
Club World Cup shifted it, so basically FIFA pursuit of money
As much as I do think it is important for players to get opportunity to represent their country, I do think letting them leave for a friendly is overkill, especially during a window where the team that pays your salary is playing.
Well normally your team isn’t playing during the window, MLS is one of the few exceptions
I was searching for a reason to care about this game… and then I just read this. Made that impossible.
Maybe we’ll go to season finale next weekend, maybe…
Yeah. I’ll have one eye in the Mexico Argentina u20 quarters
Available players (I think) from the first team:
Guzan, Gregersen, Berrocal, Alzate, Muyumba, Alfonso, Thiare, Amador, Lath, Cohen, Torres (CM), Gordon(W), Togashi, Hibbert, Sanchez (CM), Chong Qui.
From AU2, short term callups: Mazzaferro (CB), Neri(CF), Weah (CF)
I have no idea how you make a decent 11 out of this. There’s no 1st team 3rd CB, no CAM, no RB. 4-4-2, either Chong Qui or Amador switch to RB? It puts the least amount of players out of position and gets the first team regulars out there, minus Togashi unless you put him in one the wide midfielder slots.
Hell, at this point just go for 3-2-5 route one ball with:
Afonso-Thiare-LL-Togashi-Gordon
Alzate-Torres/Muyumba
CQ-Greg-Juan
Hibbert
I think we start both Latte and Thiare, based on the short term signing. I would assume we run a 4 back line since we would only have 3 true CBs with the Mazzaferro call up. It could either run Amador out of position at RB, or keep Chong Qui on the bench and play Gordon or Muyumba at RB out of position that way. I think Alzate will probably play the distributor role since he has experience. Maybe they will even run out Afonso.
My guess is:
Latte-Thiare-Afonso
Torres-Alzate-Gordon
Amador-Berrocal-Gregersen-Muyumba
Curious to see how our line up is going to look tonight. I am think we run Thiare and Latte up top and maybe run at 4-4-2 although I have no idea who is going to play RB for us