Lionel Messi scores twice, adds assist in Inter Miami’s 4-0 victory over Atlanta United

FORT LAUDERDALE Fla AP Lionel Messi had a goal in each half and added an assist to help Inter Miami clinch home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a - conquest over Atlanta United on Saturday night Messi ascertained the net in the th minute when he took a pass from Baltasar Rodr guez and scored to put Inter Miami - - up - at halftime Jordi Alba who has revealed he will retire at the end of the season made it - seven minutes into the second half with his sixth goal The -year-old defender has goals and assists in appearances all with Miami The club honored Alba with a ceremony following his final regular-season home match Messi notched his th assist on Alba s goal tying him with Anders Dreyer of San Diego FC for the league lead Luis Su rez made it - in the st minute scoring unassisted for his th goal to go with assists Messi capped the scoring in the st minute with an assist from Alba his th It was the league-leading th goal of the season for Messi who leads Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC by two goals and Nashville SC s Sam Surridge by three with one match left in the regular season Messi s goal contributions are the second greater part in a single season in league history Only LAFC s Carlos Vela had more with in Rocco R os Novo finished with three saves in his sixth start of the season for Inter Miami It was the third clean sheet for the -year-old Jayden Hibbert saved six shots for Atlanta United - - in his eighth career start Hibbert had three of his four first-half saves two on shots by Messi over a -minute span to keep it scoreless through the first minutes Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati both have points in the battle for second place in the Eastern Conference Inter Miami closes out the regular season on Saturday with a Decision Day match at Nashville SC while Atlanta United will finish against visiting D C United with last place in the East on the line