- India 81-1 in fight to deny New Zealand historic series win
- Georgia votes in key test for democracy, EU ambitions
- New Zealand sniff historic win as India set 359 to win Test
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- Freeman fairytale slam powers Dodgers to World Series win
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- Israel hits Iran missiles, bases in retaliatory strikes
- Freeman slam lifts Dodgers over Yankees in World Series thriller
- Philippine rescuers battle floodwaters to reach stranded
- Georgia votes in crucial test for democracy, EU ambitions
- Beyonce boosts Harris at abortion rights rally in Texas
- Bidzina Ivanishvili: the tycoon ruling Georgia behind the scenes
- Myanmar's war approaches Mandalay a year after rebel offensive
- Decline of rural Japan not our fault, women say
- Suarez and Alba give Miami winning start in MLS Cup playoffs
- Turkish Cypriots caught in citizenship limbo on divided island
- Final campaigning in tight Japan election
- Cali's love motels adapt to host UN summit delegates
- World champion Sakamoto takes Skate Canada lead over Liu
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- Commonwealth announces Ghana foreign minister as new secretary general
- Gaza ministry accuses Israel of storming hospital, reports two children killed
- King Charles III departs Samoa, wrapping Pacific tour
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- Guardiola praises 'incredible' mentality of Man City stars
- Chelsea boss Maresca wants more 'leadership' from captain James
- US issues historic apology for Native American boarding school atrocities
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- Drone sparks fire on Kyiv residential building, one dead
- Gaza ministry says two children die in hospital in Israeli raid
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- Yankees, Dodgers poised for World Series blockbuster
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- NASA astronaut hospitalized after return from ISS
- Biden apologizes for Native American boarding school atrocities
- Mexico rules out designating drug violence as 'terrorism'
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- Boeing exploring sale of space business: report
- G20 affirms commitment to transition from fossil fuels
- Shami misses India's tour of Australia as Easwaran named as potential Rohit cover
- BHP, Vale agree to pay $30bn damages for Brazil dam disaster
Suarez and Alba give Miami winning start in MLS Cup playoffs
Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba were on target as Inter Miami made a winning start to the first MLS Cup playoff campaign of their Lionel Messi era with a 2-1 win over Atlanta United on Friday.
Miami could book their place in the Eastern Conference semi-finals if they can win game two of the best-of-three series in Atlanta on November 2.
Inter, the top seed and favourites in the playoffs, made an electric start to the game with Suarez firing them ahead in the second minute when his former Barcelona team-mate Alba found Diego Gomez and the Paraguayan slipped the ball to Suarez who made no mistake from close range.
Atlanta qualified through a wildcard game in Montreal on Tuesday and they were slow out of the blocks as Miami dominated possession and gave visiting keeper Brad Guzan a busy opening half.
Alba fed Messi, whose sweetly struck, first-time shot forced the 40-year-old keeper into a fine, diving save.
Atlanta suffered a blow when right winger Brooks Lennon had to go off in the 21st minute and five minutes later Messi threatened again with his effort from 25-yards forcing another save from Guzan.
A minute later, Miami should have doubled their lead from a corner but David Martinez headed against the post with the goal at his mercy.
Messi then hit the post with an attempt to beat Guzan at his near post and a thundering follow-up shot from Marcelo Weigandt had the former Aston Villa keeper at full stretch.
Atlanta's problems continued with defender Stian Gregersen forced off with a muscle injury but just when it seemed everything was conspiring against them they got back on level terms in the 39th minute.
Pedro Amador played a clever little pass to find Georgia winger Saba Lobzhanidze inside the box and his first-time, left-foot shot flashed into the far bottom corner.
The visitors then had a glorious chance to go in with a lead at the break when Russian Alexey Miranchuk carved out a lovely ball through to Jamal Thiare but his shot lacked composure and was well wide.
The unique format of the first round of MLS's playoff, which go straight to penalties if the games are level after 90 minutes, would have given Atlanta hope that they could pull off an upset.
But their determined efforts were undone on the hour when they fell asleep at a Miami corner -- after a short-corner Messi played the ball across to Alba, who was left in acres of space outside the box.
The Spanish full-back gratefully accepted the invitation and unleashed a fierce drive from 25-yards out which flew past the helpless Guzan.
Messi had a chance to get on the scoresheet in stoppage time but he was denied by Guzan who raced out quickly to smother the shot.
T.Ward--AMWN