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10/17 20:48 CDT Lionel Messi scores twice, adds assist to propel Inter Miami to
3-0 victory over Atlanta United
Lionel Messi scores twice, adds assist to propel Inter Miami to 3-0 victory
over Atlanta United
ATLANTA (AP) --- Lionel Messi scored two second-half goals 4 minutes apart
after a first-half assist, and Inter Miami cruised to a 3-1 victory over
Atlanta United on Saturday night.
Neither team scored until Germn Berterame used assists from Messi and Luis
Surez in the final minute of the first half to score his ninth goal in his
first 26 MLS appearances.
Messi tied Los Angeles FC's Son Heung-min for the league lead with his 15th
assist, becoming the first player in league history with at least 15 helpers in
three consecutive seasons.
Messi added his league-leading 24th and 25th goals in the 56th and 60th minutes
for a 3-0 advantage. Berterame assisted on both scores and Surez snagged one
on Messi' second goal.
Messi won the Golden Boot Award last season with 29 goals. He and Josef
Martnez are the only players in league history to score at least 25 times in a
regular season twice. Messi's 40 goal contributions are nine shy of Carlos
Vela's record set in 2019 with Los Angeles FC, and the Miami legend has four
matches remaining to break it.
Berterame has eight assists and Surez notched his career-high 11th.
Dayne St. Clair had two saves and lost his bid for a clean sheet when Faf
Picault scored on a penalty kick in the 89th minute.
Lucas Hoyos saved two shots for Atlanta United, which played Inter Miami to a
2-2 draw on the road to start September.
Up next Atlanta: Hosts Chicago Fire on Saturday. Miami: At New York Red Bullls on Saturday. ___ See AP's full soccer coverage here
Up next Atlanta: Hosts Chicago Fire on Saturday. Miami: At New York Red Bullls on Saturday. ___ See AP's full soccer coverage here
