Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba scored first-half goals as Inter Miami cruised to a 3-1 home MLS win over Seattle Sounders on Tuesday.

Alba opened the scoring by taking a touch to control Messi's pass before rifling a shot past goalkeeper Stefan Frei.

The chemistry between the former Barcelona teammates was again on display just before halftime as Alba returned Messi's earlier favor with a perfectly weighted pass that the Argentine slid home at the far post.

Ian Fray made it 3-0 just after the break with a bullet header after Rodrigo De Paul's corner.

The visitors pulled a goal back in the 69th minute through Mexico international midfielder Obed Vargas, who bundled in from the edge of the six-yard box after Jordan Morris' cross.

The result leaves Inter Miami fifth in the eastern conference standings, eight points behind leaders Philadelphia but with three games in hand. Seattle is fourth in the western conference.

"We have found ourselves in a position of having played fewer games and now we need to keep winning to be in the positions that we are aiming for," Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano told a post-match news conference.

"Today we won one and we have seven more games. They will all be finals and our goal is to win all seven to finish first in our conference," he added.