AVENGING LAST YEAR: Messi ignites Miami comeback in win in Atlanta

Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the season on Sunday night. (USA TODAY Sports)

Inter Miami CF avenged last year’s playoff elimination as the team overcame an early one-goal deficit behind Lionel Messi to register a 2-1 victory over Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sunday night.

Atlanta showed Inter Miami CF the door in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs last year.

Substitute Fabrice Picault snapped a 1-1 deadlock in the 89th minute for Miami (3-0-1, 10 points) which moved atop the MLS Eastern Conference. Atlanta (four) fell to 1-2-1.

Atlanta took an 11th-minute lead when Brooks Lennon and Latte Lath connected in the 11th minute. The play began with Miguel Almirón in Atlanta’s half lofting a ball down the right side for Lennon. The right back brought it down and took a few touches before delivering a pin-point cross to the back post for Latte Lath to head in his third goal of the season.

Miami leveled the match through Messi. Atlanta attempted to play through pressure just outside its own 18-yard box when Messi forced a turnover before deking a defender and slotting home the equalizer with a clever chip shot in the 20th minute.

It was Messi’s first MLS goal of the campaign.

“Leo’s is a goal that only he can do,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano told MLSSoccer.com. “He is the best player in history. You can’t say anything else. A player who has the capacity to make the most beautiful goals that you’re going to see.”

Goalkeeper Brad Guzan made several big saves to keep Atlanta in the game, denying Luis Suarez in the 55th minute and Messi 10 minutes later.

“I think he was top this day,” Atlanta head coach Ronny Deila said. “He saved some really good chances they had.”

The visitors eventually found a late breakthrough in the 89th minute through Picault. Benjamin Cremaschi took a short corner kick to Jordi Alba on the left wing where the Spaniard whipped in a cross to the far side. Picault placed his header back across goal which bounced just past an outstretched Guzan off the post and into the goal.