Messi Double Fires Inter Miami Past Atlanta to Boost Playoff Home Advantage
Lionel Messi struck twice as Inter Miami beat Atlanta 3-1 on Saturday, a result that all but secures home-field advantage for at least the opening round of the MLS playoffs.
MLS Saturday key results
| Match or milestone | Outcome | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| Inter Miami vs Atlanta | Miami won 3-1 | Messi scored twice |
| Nashville SC vs San Jose | 1-1 draw | Nashville conceded late in the Shield race |
| Minnesota United vs St. Louis CITY | Minnesota won 3-2 | St. Louis’ MLS-record 21-match unbeaten run ended |
| New England vs Chicago Fire | New England won 1-0 | Chicago still booked a playoff place |
Miami were second best for much of the night in Atlanta, where Tata Martino’s side fired 21 shots to Miami’s seven and created the stronger expected-goals picture. But Messi again made the decisive difference, delivering two fine finishes as Miami converted their limited openings.
Luis Suarez has found form, but Messi remains the central figure for a Miami side that has not consistently convinced. Atlanta will miss the postseason, although their recent displays have made them a far more difficult opponent.
Nashville missed the chance to tighten their grip on the Supporters’ Shield after San Jose earned a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw. The visitors had enough in the match to justify the point.
Chicago, meanwhile, celebrated a playoff berth despite a frustrating 1-0 defeat to New England. Robert Lewandowski and the Fire could not find a way through, but the wider results ensured their place in the postseason.
Orlando City strengthened their own playoff push by scoring four against DC United. Antoine Griezmann led the rout with two goals and also set up a spectacular strike that will be in the conversation for the league’s goal of the season.
St. Louis CITY’s extraordinary streak finally ended in Minnesota. The 3-2 defeat brought their 21-game unbeaten sequence, an MLS record, to a close. Minnesota had not won since August, making the timing of their breakthrough all the more unexpected.
St. Louis had reshaped their football operation during the offseason, bringing in a new sporting director and head coach while losing important players. A late surge, helped by investment in the squad, had turned what looked likely to be another difficult campaign into a record-setting run.
Philadelphia Union had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Charlotte, with Milan Iloski scoring from the penalty spot. The forward now has 19 goals this season after arriving from San Diego last year, and has become one of Union’s most reliable finishers.
Cavan Sullivan, 17, had admitted after the Chicago match last week that he had not performed well. His recent level has dipped slightly despite his record-breaking progress, but Philadelphia’s long run means they have other players capable of deciding tight matches.
Elsewhere in the Western Conference, Seattle dropped points against struggling Montreal. LAFC and New York City FC also played out an unusual draw that left neither side satisfied.
