PicoBlog

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — This is not the Inter Miami we are used to seeing.

Inter Miami secured passage to the knockout rounds of the Leagues Cup on Tuesday night after routing Atlanta United, 4-0, at Drv Pnk Stadium. Lionel Messi and Robert Taylor led the way with a brace apiece, but nearly every player on the attack-minded South Florida side enjoyed a good night against an overmatched MLS opponent.

From Drake Callender’s continued reliability in goal to Kamal Miller’s sturdiness at the back to the midfield trio’s tempo-dictating display, there was no shortage of strong showings from Inter Miami as the team won again, won big, and won impressively.

Drake Callender (8) — Preserved the shutout with a massive penalty stop late on, and did not step a foot wrong during the entire match.

DeAndre Yedlin (7) — Got forward well and did a good job of combining inside, though his crosses left something to be desired.

Sergii Kryvtsov (7) — A quiet but effective shift in which he improved as the game wore on before exiting with either cramps or an injury.

Kamal Miller (7.5) — Had a couple of distribution mistakes late on as the legs got heavy, but was once again a tank at the back that Atlanta United had no answer for.

Noah Allen (6.5) — Projected forward well and was serviceable with his defending, though his marking on Brooks Lennon during the first half could have been better.

Sergio Busquets (7.5) — His assist on the opener was a thing of beauty, but he committed a few sloppy turnovers that could have been punished. He was a midfield ace aside from that.

Dixon Arroyo (7.5) — Another player who silently excelled, breaking up numerous plays with timely tackles, interceptions, and clearances.

Benjamin Cremaschi (7) — Turned in an industrious performance in which he scurried about on both sides of the ball while also providing a heads-up assist.

Robert Taylor (8.5) — The biggest beneficiary of Messi’s presence, he took both of his goals really well and added an assist with a pinpoint low ball in his best performance in an Inter Miami jersey to date.

Lionel Messi (9) — Another exceptional shift from the new captain, who set the tone early with his two tallies, was involved in every Inter Miami goal, and opened up space for others by drawing the attention of so many defenders.

Josef Martinez (5.5) — The one Inter Miami starter who did not really impress, combining well at times but never really looking like much of a goal threat.

Victor Ulloa (6) — Played his first match in months and looked the part in helping protect the shutout.

David Ruiz (4.5) — Did not enter the game all too sharply, failing to provide much protection for the back line in the late stages.

Christopher McVey (1) — Struggled from the moment he entered, with his penalty-kick foul and red card capping a rough appearance.

Robbie Robinson (4.5) — His most notable contribution was wasting a great chance to add to a fifth goal by intentionally avoiding the use of his non-favored left foot.

Leonardo Campana (N/A) — Had too few touches in a late cameo.

Gerardo Martino (9) — An attacking-minded first half yielded three goals, and the way the team effectively pressed when it lost the ball was a refreshing sight to behold. The team lost a bit with his subs, but those were made largely due to fatiguing starters.

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