No weather delay could dampen them, as Atlanta United Unified waited patiently for their time to shine. The 5-Stripes drew 1-1 with Inter Miami CF Unified follow the First Team match, with their battle officially kicking off at 11:35 p.m. ET Saturday night.
A visiting Atlanta United side stayed sharp for an exciting match where they rode the late momentum the First Team conjured. They scored early and earned a result, extending an unbeaten run which started back in 2023.
Liam Stuart hit the post in the 9th minute, looking for a second consecutive match with a goal. An outside-the-boot finish was unlucky not to find netting.
Less than a minute later, Xavier Hairston had the opener for Atlanta United. The 5-Stripes’ all-time leading Unified scorer had another, a left-footed finish from a chipped through ball by Connor Mcilhinney.
Dee Harden made a massive stop in the 16th minute, diving low to his left to push the ball away. But Inter Miami did equalize in the 20th minute. Darian Sierra finished off a chance to give the hosts some spark.
After the first 25-minute period, the sides were knotted at 1-1. The 5-Stripes came out of the half with more energy, pushing Miami back. Alex Guerrero made a clean one-on-one save of his own after coming on for the second half between the sticks.
Guerrero was clutch down the stretch, making two saves in the 44th minute. The match started to open up as time winded down, and Atlanta United battled to keep things tied. It was a hard-fought draw, the result of preparation and patience from the two sides to wait through the weather.
About Unified:
Each Unified team is made up of a diverse group of both Special Olympics athletes, individuals with developmental disabilities, and partners, individuals without developmental disabilities. The squads are allowed to freely substitute, giving both rosters a chance to showcase their talent.
The Unified sides train, travel and compete in matches just as the first teams do. It’s a truly inclusive space that brings together athletes from all over the Americas.
