Messi Mania Continues as Miami Cruise Past Atlanta

Fort Lauderdale – New look Inter Miami is playing their best soccer of the season and it’s no wonder why as this was the first starts for both Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets in Miami pink. It was a game that from start to finish felt like it was never in doubt as once Miami got two quick goals through Messi, then Robert Taylor would score a brace himself to give Miami a 4-0 win.

The first goal came straight out of Barcelona as it’d be Busquets who caught the Atlanta defense sleeping and found the unmarked run of Messi. At first it appeared as Atlanta may have caught a break as Messi’s first shot would bounce off of the woodwork, but he would quickly follow his shot up and make no mistake this time to give Miami the lead in the 8th minute.

Busquets 🤝 Messi

Messi puts us in the lead early with his second goal for the Club 👏👏#MIAvATL | 1-0 | 📺#MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV: https://t.co/JZtEpe9Hfa pic.twitter.com/GKujBMsW1V

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 25, 2023

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Miami would quickly double their lead after being able to catch Atlanta on the counter again. This time it’d be Messi starting the move after he received the ball at the halfway line, being allowed to run at the Atlanta backline until he found Taylor running freely down the left side of the box. Messi would spray the ball out Taylor who’d quickly play the ball back across and find Messi who only needed the one attempt this time to give Miami a 2-0 lead in the 22nd minute.

Taylor ➡️ Messi for his second of the night to double the lead in the 22nd minute 👏#MIAvATL | 2-0 pic.twitter.com/bVvzkLJdDA

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 26, 2023

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Miami would add a third right before halftime this time though Robert Taylor would etch his name on the scoresheet. Taylor’s goal may have been the third goal of the night, but it definitely was the most stunning as the Finnish international would cap off a wonderful series of passes, the final coming from 18-year-old Benjamin Cremaschi before unleashing an absolute rocket of a first-time volley that left Atlanta United goalie Brad Guzan absolutely no chance as it soared into the top of the net. With Taylor’s goal coming in the 44th minute it would give Inter Miami their first ever 3-0 lead entering halftime in the club’s history.

ROBERT TAYLOR BANGER 🚨

Cremaschi with the flick on to Taylor to give us a three goal lead in the 44th minute🤯#MIAvATL | 3-0 pic.twitter.com/8T4ttw5vaY

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 26, 2023

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The nail in the coffin for Atlanta would come in the 53rd minute after a sloppy giveaway gave the ball right back to Messi in the center of the pitch. The seven-time Ballon D’or winner would carry the ball the length of pitch while forcing three Atlanta defenders to retreat the entire way before he would lay the ball off for Robert Taylor who would score with a tidy finish that slid right by Brad Guzan. The goal would cap off a stunning display from the entire Inter Miami squad, even gk Drake Callender would get in on the action with a outstanding penalty save in the 86th minute to keep a clean sheet. The victory also advances Miami into the round of 32 for the Leagues Cup.

Taylor bags a brace 2️⃣

Messi sets up Taylor for our FOURTH of the night 👏#MIAvATL | 4-0 pic.twitter.com/ssG8CyqXWu

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 26, 2023

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