Introduction: Messi and Suárez

Inter Miami twice took the lead
against Atlanta United with a
temporary lineup and
late stars off the bench.

But a wild goal in front of
68,000 ecstatic spectators at
the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on
Wednesday evening ended in a 2-2 draw.

Although Miami only picked

Although Miami only picked
up a point from the tie, they remain
on course for the Supporters’ Shield
title with the league’s best record

and can pick up nine points with five
games remaining. That is the team’s
focus because achieving this point

guarantees home-field advantage
throughout the playoffs,
including the MLS Cup Final.

“I thought it was a tough game, strong field, big crowd, they needed three points because we were at home, we played a good game and got a point,” Miami assistant coach Javi Morales said.

Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba are not in the starting lineup, while Sergio Busquets is suspended for repeated yellow cards. Also missing from the starting line-up are centre-backs Tomas Aviles (suspension) and David Martinez (groin injury), as well as midfielders Fede Redondo (bench) and Diego Gomez (thigh injury).

Noah Allen is unavailable due to a concussion. There were only three regular players in the squad: goalkeeper Drake Callender, right-back Marcelo Weygand and midfielder Julian Kressel.

With three games a week, two of which are away, Morales believes Wednesday’s game is a good opportunity for the coaching staff to rest some starters and give minutes to others.

David Luiz, a 20-year-old midfielder from Little Havana, took advantage of his rare start to score his first goal of the season in the 29th minute to give Miami a 1-0 lead. Franco Negri, the left-back who started for Alba, started the game. He passed the ball to Leo Campana, who passed the ball into the path of Lewis, who just threw into the 18-yard box.

Ruiz has put in impressive performances for the Honduras national team in recent FIFA windows, scoring against Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.