Breel Embolo excels in debut as Atlanta United ties Inter Miami

Sep 5, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Atlanta United forward Breel Embolo (36) reacts after scoring against Inter Miami CF during the second half at Nu Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Breel Embolo converted a penalty kick in the 87th minute of his MLS debut to lift Atlanta United to a 2-2 draw against host Inter Miami on Saturday night. Embolo, the Switzerland national team star Atlanta signed in late August, was tripped in the penalty box with time dwindling. Fourteen minutes after teammate Miguel Almiron could not convert a penalty, Embolo calmly delivered a goal inside the right post past Miami's Dayne St. Clair. Embolo also had a look at a game-winner during stoppage time but missed high. Almiron had the other goal for Atlanta (6-13-4, 22 points), which is 3-1-1 in its past five. Goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos made just one save. Casemiro and Luis Suarez scored for Miami (12-4-7, 43 points), and St. Clair recorded three saves. Lionel Messi had one assist but was held scoreless one game after his first four-goal performance in MLS. He took consecutive attempts on net in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage, but the first was saved and the second deflected out of bounds by Junior Alonso. In the 32nd, Messi placed an outswinging corner kick into the box and Casemiro leapt for a header. There was nothing Hoyos could do about the shot, which slipped above him and into the far corner. But just three minutes later, Cooper Sanchez sprung an Atlanta counterattack with a pass ahead to Alexey Miranchuk. The Russian had two teammates join him and he sent it to Tomas Jacob on his right. Jacob's centering pass bounced off both a defender and St. Clair before settling in front of Almiron for an easy finish. Miami nudged back in front before halftime when Telasco Segovia sent a perfectly weighted pass to a charging Suarez. The nearest defender missed his sliding breakup attempt, and Suarez finished with a low shot toward the far post for his 12th goal of the season. Almiron drew a foul in the box and stepped to the penalty line in the 73rd minute. But St. Clair dove in front of Almiron's low shot to the right and knocked it away. The match was delayed from a 7:30 p.m. start to 9:05 p.m. ET due to heavy rain. --Field Level Media