Messi’s stunning goal not enough to secure win for Inter Miami
Despite a brilliant goal from Lionel Messi, Inter Miami couldn’t secure the win against Toronto FC.
Inside 40 minutes, Inter Miami had two shots that seemed to find the net, sparking celebrations. However, neither goal counted. Instead, they found themselves behind after conceding an early goal. Messi emerged as the savior, scoring a fantastic equalizer to bring his team back into the game, but a series of missed opportunities meant they couldn’t go on to claim victory.
In the Major League Soccer match, Inter Miami battled to a 1-1 draw against Toronto FC.
This draw sees Miami slip down to second place in the standings, although they have played one match fewer. The result was particularly disappointing, especially since coach Javier Mascherano was able to field his preferred starting lineup for the first time in a while. Goalkeeper Drake Callender returned from injury, and alongside Messi, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suárez, Miami fielded a full-strength team. Yet, they couldn’t secure a win at home against a bottom-of-the-table Toronto side.
The match quickly became a back-and-forth contest with plenty of action. In the 4th minute, Toronto’s goalkeeper made a great save to deny Alba’s stunning volley from outside the box.
In the 16th minute, Toronto forward Theo Corbinu’s shot hit the post. Two minutes later, a superb pass from Federico Bernardeschi found Lorenzo Insigne, whose shot was barely saved by Miami’s goalkeeper Callender. The ball was still in danger, as Bernardeschi’s follow-up shot was deflected off a Miami defender and then struck the post again.
In the 24th minute, Messi danced past a defender on the left wing and entered the box with intent, but his close-range shot was saved by Toronto’s keeper.
In the 29th minute, a well-placed shot from Telasco Segovia from outside the box found the net, but Suarez was offside during the build-up, so the goal was disallowed.
Around 10 minutes later, Messi pulled off a remarkable turn, shaking off a defender before finishing expertly into the net. However, VAR showed Messi had committed a foul earlier in the move, leading to the goal being ruled out.
In the 44th minute, Messi’s free-kick just sailed over the bar.
In second-half stoppage time, in the second minute of added time, Toronto took the lead through Bernardeschi. After receiving a pass from Insigne, he skillfully evaded Miami’s two defenders and scored with a delicate touch.
This was only the second time in the league this season that Toronto had taken the lead in a match.
Miami didn’t take long to respond, though. In the 5th minute of stoppage time, Segovia’s pass found Messi in the box, and he finished with a volley on his left foot to equalize for his team. Toronto’s goalkeeper couldn’t reach the ball.
This was Messi’s third goal in the current league season and his sixth in all competitions. Since joining Miami, he’s now scored 40 goals, further adding to his already impressive record.
In the second half, Bernardeschi came close again, but in the 53rd minute, Suarez missed an open goal, failing to convert into an empty net. Both teams had opportunities, but neither could claim the win.
Miami controlled 67% of possession and took 23 shots, 9 of which were on target. However, they couldn’t score more than once.
With 14 points from 6 matches, Miami now sits second in the Eastern Conference, behind Columbus Crew, who are top with 15 points from 7 games.
Toronto, with just 3 points from 7 matches, is still stuck at the bottom of the standings.
