ATLANTA (AP) — Xande Silva scored with about a minute remaining in added time shortly after a Lionel Messi goal was ruled out by a clear offside, giving ninth-seeded Atlanta United a 2-1 victory over Inter Miami on Saturday night and night the best of three MLS playoff series at one game each.

Silva fired a right-footed shot into the top left corner to beat goalkeeper Drake Callender in the 94th minute. The Atlanta player celebrated his victory by ripping off his jersey and dancing in front of the fans’ section at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, while the announced crowd of 68,455 cheered.

Messi had many good chances to score, but only found the back of the net with the flag raised for offside. Atlanta United went the other way for Silva’s game-winner.

United recovered from a 1-0 halftime deficit, the result of a huge mistake by goalkeeper Brad Guzan, to force a deciding game next Saturday in South Florida. Atlanta has a chance to pull off a major upset, having finished 34 points behind Messi’s star-studded team, which had the best record in Major League Soccer’s regular season.

Derrick Williams tied the game in the 58th minute after a corner was blocked by the Herons. Pedro Amador returned a cross into the box from long range and Williams dived to take a header on it, skipping it past Callender.

Guzan’s blunder allowed Miami to open the scoring in the 40th minute.

After easily grabbing a cross into the box, Guzan went for the ball – only to stumble and lose control with Miami’s Federico Redondo running alongside him. Redondo sent the free ball to David Martínez, who casually lobbed it past four United defenders in the unguarded goal while Guzan looked on helplessly.

The 40-year-old goalkeeper claimed he was hampered by Redondo, but the replay clearly showed Guzan was tripped.

Messi missed at least three shots, going wide on several occasions before firing one over the net in the 83rd, with Miami pressing for the go-ahead goal. He walked away, rubbing his beard, visibly frustrated by his lack of precision.

In the 89th, United missed a great chance to take the lead when Saba Lobjanidze slammed one onto the crossbar. Bartosz Slisz collected the ricochet, but fired it over the net.

Silva made sure it didn’t matter.

Miami won the series opener 2-1 at home.

FOLLOWING

The winner of Game 3 will advance to the conference semi-finals, facing the team from the Orlando-Charlotte series. These teams are also tied 1-1.

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