ATLANTA: Lionel Messi scored twice and provided an assist as Inter Miami CF secured a convincing 3-1 victory over Atlanta United in Major League Soccer (MLS) action on Saturday night. The Argentine superstar delivered a decisive performance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, helping Miami strengthen its position in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Neither team managed to score in the opening stages, but Miami broke the deadlock just before halftime. Germán Berterame headed home a cross from Luis Suárez in the 45th minute, with Messi also contributing to the move. Messi then took control of the match after the break. He doubled Miami’s advantage in the 56th minute with a left-footed finish following a combination with Berterame.
Four minutes later, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner struck again. Messi raced through Atlanta’s defence and calmly finished to make it 3-0, completing his brace and further extending his lead in the MLS Golden Boot race. Berterame played a key role in both second-half goals, providing the assist for Messi’s first strike and helping create space for the second.
Atlanta continued to push for a response and finally found the net in the 89th minute. Fafà Picault converted a penalty to reduce the deficit, but the home side could not mount a late comeback.
The victory marked Inter Miami’s third consecutive win in the regular season. The result also highlighted Messi’s continued influence, as he combined goalscoring with creative play to guide his team to another important result.
Atlanta United, meanwhile, will look to recover in its next league fixture after suffering a home defeat. Inter Miami are scheduled to face the New York Red Bulls on October 24, while Atlanta United will host Chicago Fire on the same day.
