Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender rued the absences of Sergio Busquets and Yannick Bright after Atlanta United scored in the 94th minute to take their MLS playoffs tie to a deciding third match.
Three-time Champions League-winner Busquets missed out with early-stage pneumonia and a fever but could return when the teams meet again at the Chase Stadium on Saturday (8pm ET).
Fellow midfielder Bright was replaced by Benjamin Cremaschi at half-time during the 2-1 loss because of a hamstring injury.
“You’re talking about two players who played a lot of minutes and give us different elements in how we defend,” said Callender, via the Miami Herald.
“Sergio is so good on the ball. He has leadership, he’s calm and makes good decisions. Yannick is just a wall. He’s a tank. He makes very decisive defensive plays and good passes forward. So to lose them was tough but we have to adapt.”
VAMOS MUCHACHOS 👊 #ItsMiamiTime pic.twitter.com/ML7ZIMit3H
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) November 2, 2024
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Miami vs Atlanta playoff
Having won the first leg 2-1 at home on October 26, Miami went ahead in front of more than 68,000 fans at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium when David Martinez chipped in the 40th-minute opener following a farcical mistake by Brad Guzan.
The home goalkeeper went on to make several good saves as his team came back to win through Derrick Williams’ 58th-minute equaliser and Xande Silva’s winner.
Runaway Eastern Conference champions Miami, who are captained by nine-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and feature former Premier League Golden Boot winner Luis Suarez, will be strong favourites against a side who finished eight places and 34 points below them.
CALLENDERR ‼️🧤💥 pic.twitter.com/no5tuYvyM0
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) November 3, 2024
Inter Miami loss ‘stings’
“It stings anytime you lose a game in stoppage time,” said Callender. “We had a good opportunity to take it in two games, but unfortunately we have a third game at home and that’s what we’re going to focus on now.
“Once it gets to the play-offs, everything resets. There are opportunities for teams, whether you get in as an eighth or ninth seed or number one.
“It’s up for grabs… they were fighting for their lives because it could have been the end of their play-off run, and they got out with a good result.”
The winners of the third game will meet Orlando City or Charlotte in a one-off semi-final. “It was everything I dreamed it would be – an unbelievable moment,” Atlanta interim coach Rob Valentine said of the finale.
“It was so loud after we scored… I was trying to compose myself.”
