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Lionel Messi scored twice and added an assist, while Jordi Alba also found the net as Inter Miami cruised to a 4-0 win over Eastern Conference strugglers Atlanta United. Messi was a threat from the start, skipping Argentina duty to feature for the Herons – and showing exactly why that decision paid off. Miami remain in the hunt for the second seed in the Eastern Conference following the win.
He stung the palms of Jayden Hibbert twice within the first 20 minutes. Eventually, his deserved goal came, a wonderful curled effort into the top corner to give Miami a 1-0 lead.
Luis Suarez might have made it two on a duo of occasions before the break, first heading wide and later volleying over off a couple of searching balls from Messi. A left back blew the game open properly. Alba provided the moment – with a little help from a long-time teammate. Messi raked a pass 50 yards. Alba ran onto it, and lifted over the keeper to give the Herons daylight. The Uruguayan made it three an hour in, breaking a poor showing with a truly remarkable goal, volleying home from 20 yards. Messi added a fourth to cap off something remarkably routine, an easy win for a team that perhaps needed it.
GOAL rates Inter Miami’s players from Chase Stadium…