MIAMI, FL – League Cup 2023 action resumed tonight in Miami at DRV PNK Stadium, as Inter Miami took on Atlanta United. Inter Miami looked to continue the Messi magic that had ensued from Friday’s matchup against Cruz Azul.
Miami wasted no time this game getting on the board as Messi put one in the back of the net in the first eight minutes of the match. However that wasn’t the end, in the 22nd minute of the match Messi found the net again giving him a brace, his first of most likely many in the MLS as the assist came off from Robert Taylor who had himself an amazing game as well as he put one in the net right before halftime.
Robert Taylor would set the pace for the game after halftime finding the net for a second time eight minutes after the break. With that goal Taylor and Messi made franchise history becoming the first duo to have multiple goals in a single match with both of them having two a piece. Messi and Taylor also scored in Inter Miami’s last outing on Friday night as well. In the 78th minute Messi was subbed out for Robbie Robinson. Things calmed down for the rest of the game until the 84th minute when Inter Miami defender Christopher McVey was sent off with a red card. Atlanta United’s Thiago Almada missed a penalty kick leaving the final score of tonight’s group stage matchup 4-0.
Inter Miami is the first team to punch their ticket to the Round of 32. They will join defending MLS Champion LAFC and defending Liga MX Champion Pachuca, both of those teams were handed automatic berths for winning their respective leagues and did not have to participate in the League Cup group stage. Inter Miami will be facing the winner of the South 2 Group, as things stand that could be between Houston Dynamo or in state rival Orlando City.
