Inter Miami Thrashes Atlanta 4-0 As Lionel Messi Shines
Argentine football star Lionel Messi scored two goals and assisted on another to lead Inter Miami to a 4-0 thrashing of Atlanta United and advance to the knockout stages of the Leagues Cup on Tuesday.
After coming off the bench to score a dramatic game winner in his debut on Friday night, the World Cup champion wasted no time in his first start with the MLS side.
The team captain received a lovely lofting pass from former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets and after initially hitting the post, fired home his own rebound to put Miami ahead in the 8th minute.
Messi slotted home a second in the 22nd minute on a diving cross from teammate Robert Taylor, who notched a brace of his own on a hot night in Miami.
Taylor ➡️ Messi for his second of the night to double the lead in the 22nd minute 👏#MIAvATL | 2-0 pic.twitter.com/bVvzkLJdDA
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 26, 2023
After scoring, Messi stopped and pointed from the field at the team co-owner David Beckham, who was watching the game. The gesture was met with a wide smile from the former Manchester United great who helped lure Messi to the MLS despite a massive counter offer from Saudi Arabia.
Atlanta’s best chance at getting on the scoreboard came with a late penalty kick from Thiago Almada, but Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender read it perfectly to preserve the clean sheet.
Second victory of the @LeaguesCup 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/OnlIokgMex
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 26, 2023
Messi came on as a substitute in Friday match against Cruz Azul and his game winner on a set piece in the dying second of the contest made for a dream start in MLS for the 36-year-old.
With the win Miami have now won its group in the Leagues Cup tournament, which is a World Cup-style tournament featuring all teams from MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX.
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