Georgia's Sava Lobyanidze surpassed Lionel Messi's expectations with two goals to lead struggling Atlanta United to a 3-1 win over league leaders Inter Miami in Major League Soccer on Wednesday.
Lobjanidze stunned Miami's star-studded lineup with two long-range shots just before halftime to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead.
Argentina superstar Messi pulled one back to make it 2-1 and threatened to turn the game around for the hosts, but Atlanta put themselves back within two in the 73rd minute when Jamal Teare tipped in Caleb Wiley's cross.
While Lobjanidze claimed glory with a brace, Messi's World Cup-winning Argentina teammate Thiago Almada was the star of the game for the visitors, providing two assists with some fine individual play and troubling Inter's questionable defence throughout the game.
Despite the loss, Miami remains atop the Eastern Conference with 34 points from 17 games, while closest rival Cincinnati also suffered a 2-0 loss at home to Nashville on Wednesday.
Miami, which started Messi along with former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, struggled to find a foothold against a dynamic Atlanta side that had not won a league match since March 31.
Atlanta showed its attacking intent early on just 10 minutes into the game when midfielder Brooks Lennon fired a low shot just wide of the target.
Lobjanidze gave Atlanta the lead just before halftime with a sublime individual goal, storming from midfield and firing a shot with speed and precision past Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender into the top corner.
Lobyanidze, who will be part of Georgia's squad for next month's European Championships, scored his second in the 59th minute after a neat trick from Almada sparked an Atlanta fightback and Lobyanidze's curling shot was deflected just wide before breaking the calendar.
Atlanta's second goal energized Miami and put them atop the Eastern Conference standings, and it was Messi who gave his team a lifeline in the 62nd minute, charging in and smashing a low, long-range shot into the bottom corner from nothing.
But Atlanta continued to pose a threat on the counterattack and in the 73rd minute, some good play from Almada saw Wiley cross into the net for Senegalese striker Tiare to score to make it 3-1.
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