Atlanta United 1-3 Inter Miami: Messi Scores Twice in MLS Win
Lionel Messi scored twice in four minutes to lead Inter Miami to a 3-1 win at Atlanta United, extending his lead at the top of the MLS scoring chart to 25 goals. The visitors were out-shot 21-7, but they were far more clinical in front of goal.
It was a game Atlanta felt they should have won more convincingly. They out-shot Miami 21-7 and also won the expected-goals battle, but they trailed on the stroke of half-time. Germán Berterame headed in a cross from Luis Suárez from inside the area for his ninth goal of the campaign, and Atlanta’s goalkeeper had earlier stopped Messi’s free kick in the 41st minute.
Atlanta nearly levelled early in the second half. Miguel Almiron found himself one-on-one with Dayne St Clair seven minutes after the restart, but the chance went begging. Miami then showed why they are champions.
Messi collected the ball in space on the right and moved infield, exchanged passes with Berterame and drove a low left-footed shot into the corner in the 56th minute. Four minutes later, he struck again. He broke clear on a pass from Suárez, got the better of Junior Alonso and fired past Lucas Hoyos. The 39-year-old’s brace came at the same stadium where he helped Argentina beat England in the World Cup semi-finals in July.
Atlanta had a late consolation. Fafa Picault scored from the spot in the 89th minute after going down under challenge in the box. With eight minutes of added time, the hosts pressed hard but could not find a way back into the game.
The result was Miami’s third straight victory under new coach Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez and moves them to 55 points, with the playoffs approaching. Suárez’s assist also made him the second player in club history to reach 100 goal contributions. Atlanta stay on 30 points.
