Inter Miami returned to its “A” lineup at home against Atlanta United Wednesday night with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets back in action after skipping the road game at Vancouver.

But the high-priced stars and their teammates wilted on a steamy, humid night and Miami’s 10-game unbeaten streak ended with a 3-1 loss to an Atlanta team that had gone winless the past nine games and played with more urgency as its coach Gonzalo Pineda is on the hot seat.

The Miami midfield and defense looked sluggish, and Atlanta took advantage.

Saba Lobjanidze, the speedy Georgian, scored the first two goals for the visitors. The first came in transition just before halftime after an Atlanta midfielder intercepted a weak Busquets pass and Lobjanidze outraced Miami defenders and blasted a shot past goalkeeper Drake Callender from outside the box. The second was in the 59th minute, and once again, Lobjanidze had plenty of space to work with and found the back of the net.

Messi gave Miami fans at Chase Stadium reason to hope after a left-footed golazo from distance in the 62nd minute, but the Messi magic was not enough. Jamal Thiare made a shot from very close range 10 minutes later to widen the gap. The home crowd, known for its boundless energy, was subdued for the remainder of the game.

Callender looked irritated as the game wore on, and who could blame him? After three strong games from Miami’s back line, the defense looked spotty for much of the night against Atlanta. Messi, Busquets and Suarez were playing for the first time in 10 days and the passing seemed out of sync.

Despite the loss, Miami still has the best record in Major League Soccer through 17 games, with 34 points from 10 wins, three losses and four ties. Cincinnati, which could have overtaken Miami in the Eastern Conference standings, also lost, 2-0 to Nashville, and remained in second place with 33 points.

Defensive midfielder Federico Redondo started for the first time since missing two months with a knee injury, and he, too, looked a bit winded. Winger Robert Taylor, who had a goal and an assist against Vancouver, also started.

Atlanta’s leading scorer Giorgos Giakoumakis, who has five goals, sat out the last game against Los Angeles FC because of a hamstring injury. He was listed as a sub on Wednesday. Brad Guzan, Atlanta’s starting goalkeeper, is out serving a red card suspension.

Coming off the bench for Miami in the second half: Matias Rojas and Leo Campana (who scored the past two games).

Players who were not used: CJ Dos Santos, Ryan Sailor, Noah Allen, Franco Negri, David Ruiz, Leo Afonso and Benja Cremaschi, who Wednesday was invited to the U.S. Olympic team camp in June in preparation for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Cremaschi, the youngest player called into camp by U.S. coach Marko Mitrovic, missed the first seven games of the Inter Miami season following sports hernia surgery. Since his return he has played in eight games and scored two goals.

The Argentine American appeared in all four Men’s Olympic Team matches last fall, scoring the lone USA goal in a 1-1 tie with Iraq.

“Last year Benja made big, big steps with Inter Miami and he grew through our youth system, and he got the opportunity to play for MNT (men’s senior national team),” Mitrovic said. “He had a small setback at the beginning of this year with his injury, but we are happy he’s back and we could see his impact right away on the field. Benja is important for our roster, important for our team, and he is the youngest player on our roster, so we believe he has a bright future with our MNT one day.”

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