Lionel Messi returned for Inter Miami with a goal, helping them come from behind to beat Atlanta United 2-1 in MLS on Sunday.
Emmanuel Latte Lath had given Atlanta the lead early on, only for Messi, who had missed the last two MLS games with an ankle injury, to equalize nine minutes later before Fafa Picault completed the comeback with one minute to go.
The hosts had started brightly and got their reward 11 minutes in as Brooks Lennon got in front of his marker down the right to chip a cross into the far post, where Latte Lath rose high to nod in the opener.
He thought he had a second nine minutes later, once again leaping to meet Lennon’s cross, but the offside flag went up against him.
One minute later, Miami levelled, profiting from some slack Atlanta passing outside their box. Bartosz Slisz gifted the ball to Messi, who dribbled into the box to chip a close-range finish past Brad Guzan.
Miami pushed for a second goal on either side of the break, with Guzan making two great saves to deny Messi, while Tristan Muyumba also saw his long-range effort expertly turned onto the crossbar by Rocco Rios Novo at the other end.
Miami’s pressure eventually paid off in the 89th minute, with substitute Fafa Picault meeting Jordi Alba’s cross with a thumping header that bounced back across the face of goal and in.
It was a win that saw Miami leapfrog the Philadelphia Union to the top of the Eastern Conference, while Atlanta’s winless streak extended to three matches.
Data Debrief: Back with a bang
Miami had not struggled in Messi’s injury absence in recent weeks, with their unbeaten streak in all competitions now extended to eight games with this win.
However, he provided a much-needed spark on Sunday after Latte Lath had netted his third goal of the season.
Messi had only recorded a goal contribution in one of his last six MLS away matches (including the playoffs) prior to this match, but unlike the last two times he faced Atlanta, he contributed to the scoreline.
He led from the front, having seven shots overall, a game-high, with five of those hitting the target, and he would have had more goals if not for some fine Guzan saves. His chances were worth 1.41 expected goals (xG). As a team, Miami accumulated 1.78 xG.
