Inter Miami vs Atlanta United score, result, highlights as Lionel Messi scores brace in dominant Leagues Cup win

Kyle Bonn

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Inter Miami vs Atlanta United score, result, highlights as Lionel Messi scores brace in dominant Leagues Cup win image

FORT LAUDERDALE — If Friday provided the world's first taste of Lionel Messi with Inter Miami, then tonight was the main course.

Three days after his dramatic 94th-minute winner against Cruz Azul gave Inter Miami victory on his debut, Messi started against Atlanta United and delivered a masterclass, scoring two and assisting a third to lead the side to a dominant 4-0 victory.

Messi was afforded acres of space to operate in midfield, and he made the most of it. Robert Taylor benefitted the most from Messi's brilliance, scoring two of his own and assisting one for his new superstar teammate. Sergio Busquets was exceptional as well, as Messi's former teammate brought back memories of their Barcelona days, the two connecting on the opening goal and combining throughout the evening.

For as good as Inter Miami were, Atlanta United were equally poor, allowing the star man far too much room and also finishing horribly in the final third. By the end of it all, Inter Miami secured all three points, and with their spot atop the three-team Leagues Cup group, they advance to the knockout stage where they'll host at least one match.

The Sporting News followed the Inter Miami vs Atlanta United match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happened.

MORE: Messi's Miami apartment | Messi's wife & family | Messi's net worth

Inter Miami vs Atlanta United final score

  Final Goal scorers
Inter Miami 4 Messi (9', 22'),
Taylor (44', 52')
Atlanta United 0 —

Starting lineups:

Inter Miami (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Callender (GK) — 32. Allen, 27. Kryvtsov (McVey, 72' — red card, 84'), 31. Miller, 2. Yedlin — 30. Cremaschi (Ulloa, 72'), 5. Busquets (Ruiz, 72'), 3. Arroyo — 10. Messi (R. Robinson, 78'), 17. Martinez, 16. Taylor (Campana, 83').

Atlanta United (3-4-3, right to left): 1. Guzan (GK) — 12. M. Robinson, 22. Purata, 4. Abram (R. Hernandez, 46') — 11. Lennon, 5. Sosa, 20. Rossetto, 26. Wiley — 28. Wolff (Mosquera, 46'), 7. Giakoumakis (Berry, 65'), 23. Almada.

Inter Miami vs Atlanta United live updates, highlights, commentary

FULLTIME: Inter Miami 4-0 Atlanta United

Utter domination from Inter Miami, as they start the Lionel Messi era with a pair of Leagues Cup victories, topping South Group 3 and securing a home knockout stage match. Such an enjoyable experience to behold, unless you're an Atlanta United supporter, in which case...I'm sorry. If it's any consolation, Atlanta are unlikely to be the last side to crumble under Messi's brilliance.

Lionel Messi trades shirts with fellow Argentine forward Thiago Almada, who probably would have been the betting favorite for that before the match.

Inter Miami vs Atlanta United: Second Half

90th min: Two minutes of stoppage time added. Meanwhile, a pigeon gets lost in DRV PNK Stadium, but it has a happy ending. What a wild night.

84th min: PENALTY, ATLANTA UNITED! Christopher McVey, only on the pitch for about 10 minutes, is sent off with a RED CARD for taking down a man in the penalty area! Thiago Almada steps up to take...

SAVED! It's an awful penalty from Almada, as he takes approximately 10 stutter steps on his way up, and Drake Callender parries the hit! The woes in front of goal continue for Atlanta United!

80th min: Before the free-kick is taken, a fan runs on the field like an idiot, trying to get to Messi from across the width of the pitch, but he doesn't make it all the way. Finally, the free-kick is delivered, and it's an excellent hit from Thiago Almada, but Drake Callender is up to the task.

Robert Taylor is the final Inter Miami substitute, as the other man on a hat-trick won't be given the chance to find a third, withdrawn for Leonardo Campana.

78th min: Atlanta United get a dangerous free-kick chance as Berry is felled about three yards outside the top of the 18-yard box, from right about where Lionel Messi scored his famous goal three nights ago.

With the stoppage, the crowd gives Lionel Messi a standing ovation as he's withdrawn for Robbie Robinson. He has a hug with country mate Thiago Almada before the slow walk off the field.

76th min: Chance, Atlanta United! Miguel Berry has Atlanta United's best chance of the match, with a deflection seeing him fortunate to have space for a shot on the penalty spot, but he fires it straight at Drake Callender! Atlanta have been utterly putrid in the final third tonight.

71st min: Chance, Inter Miami! Robert Taylor nearly has his hat-trick but Brad Guzan denies him with a wonderful save! An utterly scintillating counter-attack is driven forward by Lionel Messi who has acres of space through midfield, and he filters it left to Josef Martinez. The Colombian could shoot, but he instead decides to cut it laterally to Taylor, who slides for the finish. Guzan is there diving full-stretch to his left to stop it. Almost a fifth!

The first two changes for Inter Miami see Sergio Busquets withdrawn alongside Benji Cremaschi and Serhiy Kryvtsov, with David Ruiz, Christopher McVey, and Victor Ulloa on instead.

70th min: Atlanta United forwards are simply allergic to shooting tonight. Edwin Mosquera is on his horse on the break, but he takes too long to make a decision and his angle tightens, and still with some space to shoot, Mosquera decides instead to square it for a trailing attacker who's blanketed by two defenders. Absolutely abysmal decision-making on a number of occasions.

65th min: Another change for Atlanta United as Georgios Giakoumakis is withdrawn for Miguel Berry. Inter Miami is reading a double change, and it looks like Sergio Busquets could be withdrawn shortly.

62nd min: The game has cooled off a bit, with Atlanta United doing its best to spring Thiago Almada on the direct over-the-top feed, but they can't make it happen. Drake Callender has to snatch a free-kick delivery but does well to get up for it.

52nd min: GOAL! INTER MIAMI! Lionel Messi with an assist on the two-on-three breakaway, and Robert Taylor gets his brace! It's a rout for the hosts in South Florida, they lead 4-0!

It's another tight angle hit as Taylor beats his defender off the back shoulder again, again off the inside of the far post. Pinpoint placement.

49th min: Chance, Atlanta United! Oh no, that's a terrible mix-up for Atlanta United at the worst possible moment. Caleb Wiley did absolutely brilliantly to receive a feed down the left edge of the penalty area, with his first touch sending his defender for a hot dog and putting him wide open in front of goal...but he decided to pass it for some reason?????

Wiley has the goal gaping, but he feeds it laterally right, and Georgios Giakoumakis's first touch is poor, and he can't get a shot off.

47th min: Chance, Inter Miami! Robert Taylor is feeling it, and he has a whack on goal, which is saved well by Brad Guzan who dives to his left to make the stop.

Kickoff: Atlanta United get the second half under way here in Fort Lauderdale. Inter Miami, holding a three-goal halftime lead for the first time in club history, will top the Leagues Cup group with a win, which would secure a home match in the first round of the knockout stage.

Two halftime subs for Atlanta, who bring on Ronald Hernandez for Luis Abram at center-back, and Edwin Mosquera replaces Tyler Wolff.

You have to imagine that if this game remains 3-0 or worse by the 60th or 70th minute, Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets would be candidates to be substituted off. They are probably capable of playing the full 90 at this point, but no reason to risk them if the game is likely in hand.

HALFTIME: Inter Miami 3-0 Atlanta United

A totally dominant 45 minutes from Inter Miami, and the two superstars Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets were right in the thick of the performance.

Nothing you can do but be in utter awe of the greatest player in the world absolutely eating an MLS opponent for dinner.

Inter Miami vs Atlanta United: First Half

44th min: GOAL! INTER MIAMI! LIONEL MESSI WHO??? ROBERT TAYLOR HAS JUST SCORED A GOLAZO! From the top of the penalty area, Messi filters it wide left, and via a gorgeous touch and flick from Benji Cremaschi, Robert Taylor gets it down the left edge of the 18-yard box. From a very tight angle, Taylor unleashes a left-footed HOWITZER and roofs it for Inter Miami's third!

38th min: Chance, Atlanta United! Sergio Busquets with a very poor giveaway in the defensive third, and it results in a Thiago Almada shot from a tight angle. He comes VERY close, fizzing his effort just wide of the far post! Busquets apologizes to his teammates, as he never saw the opponent anticipating his pass.

35th min: Lionel Messi again gets a chip over the top from Sergio Busquets, but this time his shot is right into Brad Guzan's bread basket. The offside flag goes up anyways, so it wouldn't have counted. He was quite clearly offside. Similar to the opening goal but just not quite the same precise execution.

34th min: Lionel Messi spins and whirls to keep possession and the crowd loves it. It's not even that impressive, really, and it just resulted in a back-pass, but the Inter Miami fans are infatuated with everything he does, and rightly so.

28th min: Atlanta United have their first attack in quite some time, and the combination of Caleb Wiley and Thiago Almada nearly unlocks the Inter Miami defense on the Atlanta left wing, but they can't get through the trees with possession.

Inter Miami go right down the other way as Lionel Messi springs DeAndre Yedlin down the same side of the field, but Benji Cremaschi's shot is blocked.

22nd min: GOAL! INTER MIAMI! LIONEL MESSI HAS HIS SECOND, HE CAN'T BE STOPPED! Messi carries it forward through midfield with acres of space, and he feeds Robert Taylor on the left. Taylor does very well to slide and meet the ball, redirecting it centrally back to Messi, and with a dummy from Josef Martinez, Messi has a wide open net to tap into.

In the celebration, the Inter Miami supporters display a sign showing support for 20-year-old Ian Fray who tore his ACL for a third time in Friday's win over Cruz Azul. A really nice touch.

20th min: Lionel Messi, Robert Taylor, and Josef Martinez all combine back and forth at the top of the penalty area, but none of them have room to shoot. Finally, Messi pulls the trigger with little space, and all he can produce is a weak left-footed shot that's easily collected by Brad Guzan.

16th min: Lionel Messi again creates a chance for an opponent with a sensational moment of brilliance, putting a big switch in a bucket for Robert Taylor, but the Inter Miami winger can't control it, and as his first touch takes him too wide, the chance evaporates.

12th min: Chance, Inter Miami! Lionel Messi gets Josef Martinez into the action with a silky back-heel, and Martinez rifles his shot just high from a tight angle.

9th min: GOAL! INTER MIAMI! LIONEL MESSI HAS DONE IT AGAIN! It comes on a direct ball over the back line, as Messi makes the run from midfield, and his old mate Sergio Busquets puts it right on a platter at full speed. Messi's first attempt comes off the far post, but he collects the rebound and deposits it in the back of the net.

There's a long VAR check for offside on the initial feed from Busquets, and it survives!

7th min: Atlanta United have had all the attacking possession early in this match. A cross from Brooks Lennon down the right wasn't intended to trouble Drake Callender, but it gets over the leaping Inter Miami goalkeeper and clips off the crossbar. If there was someone to pounce at the far post it's a goal, but nobody is there for Atlanta United to take advantage.

2nd min: Chance, Atlanta United! Atlanta United have the ball in the back of the net, but the offside flag goes up! Giakoumakis is sprung free and clear on goal, and with his angle a bit tight, he expertly squares it for Tyler Wolff who puts it into the net off the fingertips of Drake Callender. The flag goes up, and the decision survives a VAR review.

1st min: Some tactical notes from both sides as the game begins. First, Atlanta United has switched from its usual back-three to a traditional four-back, which suggests they are worried about the ability of Lionel Messi finding space between the center-backs. For Inter Miami, Messi is being man-marked by Santiago Sosa, who is also an Argentine.

Kickoff: We're under way in Fort Lauderdale! After a thunderous atmosphere on Friday, DRV PNK is noticeably only around half full. Wonder if people are just arriving late, or if ticket prices have driven people away now that the novelty of Lionel Messi's debut has worn off.

Inter Miami vs Atlanta United: Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more

5 mins to kick: Inter Miami winger Robert Taylor noticed a big difference in terms of his own operating space once Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets entered the pitch on Friday. We'll see how much room he has this time around with at least 60 minutes with the duo on the field, and Atlanta United having extra time to prepare.

18 mins to kick: The weather tonight in Ft. Lauderdale, quite frankly, is disgusting. 87 degrees isn't too bad, but an absolutely hideous 72 percent humidity means the heat index is 99 degrees. There definitely will be drinks breaks, and we'll see how that affects the players. You wonder if the heat and humidity is enough, it could affect the minutes Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets see tonight.

30 mins to kick: While the world focuses on Lionel Messi, his Argentine teammate, Thiago Almada, is on the opposition tonight. Almada, just 22 years old, was part of Argentina's 2022 World Cup winning squad, and is likely to be on his way to Europe in the next year or two. One of the most talented young players in MLS currently, and ready to oppose his legendary country mate tonight.

50 mins to kick: The lineups are out (better late than never), and it's now official: Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets will start for the first time for Inter Miami. Josef Martinez also re-enters the starting lineup, while Robbie Robinson is dropped from his wide role despite putting in a very quality shift against Cruz Azul.

Miles Robinson returns to the Atlanta United lineup after sitting out their most recent MLS match against Orlando City.

1 hour to kick: While we wait for lineups to be released as the usual hour-before deadline passes, here's Inter Miami owner and former England free-kick specialist David Beckham recreating Lionel Messi's 94th-minute game winner from Friday.

1 hour 15 mins to kick: Qualification to the knockout stage requires a team only finish top two in its three-team group. Thus, following victory against Cruz Azul on Friday, the scenario for Inter Miami to qualify is simple: they need one point, and thus need only a draw tonight.

They can still qualify for the knockout stage with defeat, IF Cruz Azul lose to Atlanta United in the final match which comes on Saturday.

Although it likely won't come into play in this group the way the math has played out, there is one wrinkle to keep in mind for Leagues Cup games: in group stage play, ALL draws will result immediately in a penalty shootout, whereby the winning team gains an additional point on top of their one point from the 90-minute draw.

1 hour 33 mins to kick: Inter Miami strongly hinted on their Instagram account that Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets WILL start tonight against Atlanta United, and The Athletic is reporting that they will. It's unclear whether they'll get a full 90 minutes in, but they got nearly a full half on Friday, and those two players aren't very used to being subbed off, so it's a good bet they'll go the distance.

1 hour 45 mins to kick: Inter Miami, only incepted in 2020, is a brand new club. Therefore, it's not surprising that their leading goal scorer only has 29 career goals with the club. That is none other than Lionel Messi's Argentine country mate Gonzalo Higuain, who was the club's first marquee signing.

With his debut goal, Messi just needs 28 goals to become the club's all-time leading scorer. At Friday's pace, it won't take him very long to end up atop the charts!

2 hours to kickoff: Lionel Messi has played one match for Inter Miami, and already the head coach of the Miami Hurricanes football team is looking to use his presence to recruit athletes to the city.

MORE: Inter Miami beginner's guide | Messi's new stadium | Club owners | New coach

Inter Miami vs Atlanta United lineups, team news

Tata Martino told media the day prior to the match that Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets will "probably play more minutes" than they did against Cruz Azul on Friday, when they got nearly the entire second half. Sure enough, Inter Miami announced in the run-up to Tuesday's game that the two WILL be in the starting lineup, and that was confirmed with the official starting lineup.

Josef Martinez also re-enters the starting lineup after coming off the bench against Cruz Azul, while Robbie Robinson is dropped from his wide role despite putting in a very quality shift on Friday.

The match last Friday was dampened slightly by a serious injury to 20-year-old full-back Ian Fray who suffered another ACL tear in his young career, leaving him sidelined for at least the rest of the season and likely longer.

It's just the latest blow in a season of injuries for Inter Miami, who are without influential midfielders Gregore and Jean Mota due to long-term injuries of their own. French striker Corentin Jean is also out for the year with an ACL tear.

Inter Miami confirmed starting lineup (4-3-3): Callender (GK) — Allen, Kryvtsov, Miller, Yedlin — Cremaschi, Busquets, Arroyo — Messi, Martinez, Taylor.

Inter Miami subs (12): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)

Atlanta United are yet to play in Leagues Cup action, but manager Gonzalo Pineda's side are enjoying a solid campaign in MLS, with Greece international Giorgos Giakoumakis netting 10 league goals so far.

Giakoumakis didn't start Atlanta United's last MLS match before the break for Leagues Cup, but he returns here to lead the front line, as does Miles Robinson who slides back into the defensive line. In-form wing-back Caleb Wiley, who played for the U.S. at the Under-20 World Cup earlier this summer, is one player Inter Miami will need to keep an eye on.

Atlanta United confirmed starting lineup (3-4-3): Guzan (GK) — M. Robinson, Purata, Abram — Lennon, Sosa, Rossetto, Wiley — Wolff, Giakoumakis, Almada.

Atlanta United subs (12): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)

MORE: What is Leagues Cup and how does it work?

How to watch Inter Miami vs Atlanta United

The entirety of the Leagues Cup is being streamed on MLS Season Pass which can be found on Apple TV.

With the MLS season past the halfway mark, Apple has slashed the price on subscriptions for MLS Season Pass, with new users able to jump in at 50 percent off for the rest of the year.

For Inter Miami’s two Leagues Cup group stage matches, MLS Season Pass will feature “an enhanced production” with “18 cameras, Steadicam, four super slow-motion cameras, Skycam, a drone, sideline reporters in Spanish and English, a dedicated one-hour pregame show on site with features, interviews and expert analysis, and a postgame show to wrap things up.”

Safe to say Apple is going all in on the Messi boost.

MORE: Can Messi win MLS title? | Records he can break | Trophies he can win

Inter Miami vs Atlanta United betting odds,

Expectations for Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup have been tempered somewhat after the narrow win over Cruz Azul on Friday.

While the club shockingly opened as third-favorites to win the entire competition prior to the tournament kickoff, they've seen their odds lengthening somewhat after needing Messi's late magic to beat the last-place team in Mexico's Liga MX standings. They're still favored to beat Atlanta United, but only by a narrow margin.

  Inter Miami
win		 Draw Atlanta Utd
win		 Both teams
to score Y / N		 Over / Under
2.5 goals		 MIA
-0.5		 ATL
+0.5
BetMGM
(USA)		 +115 +240 +180 -175 / +120 -155 / +105 +115 -160

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.