Supporters’ Shield winners Inter Miami and superstar Lionel Messi didn’t expect to find their backs against the wall so early in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs.

Yet here they are, in a winner-take-all game against a wild Atlanta United team that has given them fits all season.

The Herons won the first meeting of this best-of-three series thanks to a Jordi Alba winner in the final 15 minutes, but fell in Atlanta behind a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Xande Silva.

So tonight’s winner will advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, while the loser will see their season end sooner than expected.

Sporting News is following Inter Miami vs Atlanta United live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

Inter Miami vs Atlanta United live score

Kickoff: 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT
Location: Chase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
Referee: Lukasz Szpala

Predicted lineups:

Inter Miami (4-3-3, from right to left): Callender (GK) — Weigandt, Aviles, D. Martinez, Alba — Redondo, Busquets, Cremaschi — Messi, Suarez, D. Gomez.

Atlanta United (3-5-1-1, from right to left): Guzan (GK) — R. Hernandez, D. Williams, Gregersen — Lobzhanidze, Slisz, McCarty, Fortune, Amador — Miranchuk — Thiare.

MORE: A look at the updated MLS Cup 2024 playoff bracket

Atlanta United vs. Live Updates Inter Miami, first round highlights

1 hour 45 minutes to kick: There is a rumor that Lionel Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Neymar wants out of Al Hilal (potentially through a purchase) and join Inter Miami. The report is reportedly from South American publication El Nacional, meaning it’s just a rumor at this point.

Neymar is currently injured, reaching just 42 minutes of his return from a torn ACL before suffering further illness, so Inter Miami would certainly like to see the Brazilian prove he can stay fit before making a move, but it would definitely make this team even stronger if they can do it!

2 hours until the start: As Lionel Messi winds down his career at his current MLS club, he also gave a nod to the current crop of young stars looking to become the world’s next best generations. Reigning Ballon d’Or winners can vote for the Kopa Trophy, the award given to the best young player in the world in the last year.

This year’s winner wasn’t really in doubt as Lamine Yamal was indeed the recipient of the award as expected, but it was still interesting to see how Messi himself cast his vote. Indeed, he had the Spaniard first, followed by his Barcelona team-mate Pau Cubarsi and Argentina’s Alejandro Garnacho in third. Messi is definitely loyal to his teammates!

Leo Messi’s official vote for the Kopa Trophy as the best talent at the Ballon d’Or.

1⃣ Lamine Yamal
2⃣ Pau Cubarsi
3⃣ Alejandro Garnacho pic.twitter.com/GHfVq04yvf

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 8, 2024

Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami start time

This decisive match in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs begins at Chase Stadium on Saturday, November 9 at 8 p.m. local time in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Here’s how that time translates to North American time zones:

Inter Miami vs Atlanta United lineups, team news, starting 11

The biggest boost for Inter Miami will likely be his return Sergio Busquets who missed the Atlanta game due to illness. That he could see Noah Allen drop out of the side, although Tata Martino could reward his young defender with another call-up after playing well in his starting spot.

The most recent Heron to suffer an injury is Yannick Brightwho was withdrawn at half-time from last weekend’s game and will be a doubt. He follows David Ruiz and Leo Afonso who went down with a muscle injury at the end of the regular season.

Nicolas Freire and Facundo Farias are both down for the year with ACL tears early in the season and Sergei Kryvtsov is sidelined with a hamstring problem.

Inter Miami projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Callender (GK) — Weigandt, Aviles, D. Martinez, Alba — Redondo, Busquets, Cremaschi — Messi, Suarez, D. Gomez.

Inter Miami substitutions: (The lineups were released one hour before kick-off)

Atlanta United is without two key players who have recently been injured and will be out for the rest of the season.

Edwin Mosquera suffered a knee injury during the regular season that required surgery, while Brooks Lennon suffered a dislocated shoulder in the first game of this campaign-ending playoff series.

Stian Gregersen was benched with a hamstring injury in the first round, but has recovered enough to make the bench in Atlanta and could return to the starting lineup here.

Projected starting lineup for Atlanta United (3-5-1-1): Guzan (GK) — R. Hernandez, D. Williams, Gregersen — Lobzhanidze, Slisz, McCarty, Fortune, Amador — Miranchuk — Thiare.

Atlanta United Subs: (The lineups were released one hour before kick-off)