Lionel Messi, the new Inter Miami joinee, continued his sensational form after scoring a dramatic injury-time match-winning goal on his debut in the team's Leagues Cup 2023 opener against Cruz Azul. While he had come in as a second-half substitute in that game, in what was his first start for the Major League Soccer (MLS) side, he delivered an even better performance scoring twice while also setting up another goal in Inter Miami's 4-0 win over Atlanta United. The victory has taken the David Beckham co-owned club into the knockout round of the Leagues Cup.
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Messi's first put Inter Miami in the lead in just the eighth minute of the match when even though his low shot hit the post, when opportunity arose on the rebound there was no mistake from the legendary Argentine as he slotted the ball into the back of the net. The World Cup winner with Argentina then doubled the team's lead in the 22nd minute, forming a superb partnership with winger Robert Taylor with whom he was involved in two of the team's four goals.
In the 53rd minute of the match, Atlanta's defense was caught off-guard as they were hit on the counter-attack. It happened when a corner kick was cleared, and the ball ended up with Messi, who initiated a swift run from his own half. With great vision and precision, Messi provided an assist to Taylor, who calmly struck a powerful low shot into the net. The goal showcased a remarkable display of teamwork and individual brilliance, allowing them to further extend their dominance in the match.