Messi scores twice in fifteen minutes as Inter Miami routs Atlanta United 1-3

Messi needed just fifteen minutes to blow the game open. Between the 55th and 59th minutes, the Argentine struck twice with his left foot to make it 0-3, sealing a night that finished 1-3 in favor of Inter Miami CF at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in MLS play.

The home side started the better of the two teams, with Breel Embolo creating early chances that failed to find the net, but Inter Miami struck right before halftime. In the 44th minute, Germán Berterame headed home from close range off an assist from Luis Suarez, sending Atlanta United into the locker room down on the scoreboard despite having created more early opportunities.

The second half was a different story. In the 55th minute, Messi finished from the center of the box with his left foot off a Berterame assist to make it 0-2, and four minutes later, in the 59th, he repeated the trick: a left-footed strike from inside the area, this time set up by Suarez after a counterattack, for 0-3. In under a quarter of an hour, the match was decided.

Atlanta United did not lack for attempts to respond. A VAR review in the 70th minute overturned a penalty call in Inter Miami's favor, and the home side later hit the post through Matt Edwards in the 85th minute. Two minutes later came a partial reward: a penalty committed by Maximiliano Falcón on Fafà Picault, which Picault himself converted in the 88th minute to make it the final 1-3, closing out the scoring in stoppage time.

What the numbers say

The home team dominated in shot volume but not in efficiency, finishing with 20 shots to Inter Miami's 7, though the visitors were more clinical and created more clear-cut chances. Possession also went the way of Cristian González's side, who controlled the ball with 565 passes compared to Atlanta United's 433.

Our in-house xG estimate, calculated from the shots taken in the match, gives Atlanta United 2.067 expected goals against 1.52 for Inter Miami, a number that reflects the home team's high shot count failing to translate into goals, aside from the late penalty.

The pre-match projection had favored a visiting win at 55% probability, against 23% for the home side and 22% for a draw, with expected goals of 1.41 for Atlanta United and 2.22 for Inter Miami, a combined total of 3.63. The final result, with three goals for Inter Miami and one for Atlanta United, ended up matching that trend set before kickoff.

What it means in the standings

In the Eastern Conference, Inter Miami CF moves to 55 points from 30 matches played, with 15 wins, 10 draws and 5 losses, holding onto second place. Atlanta United, meanwhile, sits on 30 points from its 30 matches, with 8 wins, 6 draws and 16 losses, in 14th place. The gap between the two sides in the standings stands at 25 points.

For Inter Miami, the night will be remembered for Messi's brace and Suarez's assists on two of the three goals. For Atlanta United, the lone consolation was Picault's penalty, which at least kept the scoreline from being a shutout after a second half in which the home side could not contain the gap in class with its opponent.