Lionel Messi struck twice and set up another goal as Inter Miami thrashed Atlanta United 4-0 on Saturday night, securing home-field advantage for the first round of the MLS playoffs.
Messi opened the scoring in the 39th minute, slotting home from a Baltasar Rodríguez pass to give Miami (18-7-8) a 1-0 halftime lead.
Veteran defender Jordi Alba, who recently announced his retirement at the end of the season, doubled the lead seven minutes into the second half with his sixth goal for the club. The 36-year-old, who has registered 11 goals and 27 assists in 64 appearances for Miami, was honored with a post-match ceremony marking his final regular-season home appearance.
Messi provided the assist on Alba’s goal — his 18th of the season — tying him with Anders Dreyer of San Diego FC for the league lead.
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Luis Suárez made it 3-0 in the 61st minute with an unassisted strike, his 10th goal of the season to go with 10 assists.
Messi sealed the emphatic win in the 81st minute, finishing from an Alba assist to claim his league-leading 26th goal of the campaign. He now leads 2023 Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC by two goals and Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge by three, with one match remaining in the regular season.
The Argentine star’s 44 goal contributions (26 goals, 18 assists) are the second-highest in a single MLS season, behind only LAFC’s Carlos Vela, who recorded 49 in 2019.
Goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo made three saves in his sixth start of the season to secure his third clean sheet.
For Atlanta United (5-16-12), Jayden Hibbert, 21, recorded six saves in his eighth career start, including three crucial stops against Messi in the opening 21 minutes to keep the score level early on.
Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati are now tied on 62 points, battling for second place in the Eastern Conference.
Miami will wrap up the regular season on Saturday with a Decision Day fixture against Nashville SC, while Atlanta will host D.C. United in a fight to avoid finishing bottom of the conference.
Source: AP