MIA 4-0 TOR, MLS Highlights: Inter Miami thumps Toronto 4-0 despite losing Messi, Alba early

Sublime performance from Inter Miami as it thumps Toronto FC 4-0, despite losing Messi and Alba early in the game. Robert Taylor was the star of the show with two goals and an assist. Miami stays alive in the playoff race with this thumping win.

Patient build up play from Inter Miami. Chipped through ball by Farias for Robert Taylor who thumps it in from a narrow angle.

Inter Miami leads by four now.

Insigne hits the post for Toronto. Closest his side has come to scoring in this game. Inter Miami regroups and regains control of the game.

Inter Miami coasting to an easy win here. The goals have only added to the home side’s confidence as they pass the ball around the turf with zing. Busquets controlling the tempo of the game from the midfield.

Fluid football from Inter Miami as they scythe their through Toronto’s defence. Taylor sets up Cremaschi, who slots it in past Romero.

Miami pulls further ahead.

Yedlin makes a powerful charge down the right flank. Tries to launch a shot from far away. But it is high and wide. Not the greatest effort from the Miami captain. Not much opening for Toronto as Inter Miami tightens its defence.

Triple substitution from Gerardo Martino as he looks to maintain his side’s lead in the game. Corner for Toronto. It is punched away by Callender.

Confidence surging for Inter Miami. Greater fluidity in attack from the hom side as they continue to apply pressure on the Toronto defence. Farias and Taylor links up well, but they are quickly closed down by the Toronto defence.

Toronto’s hopes of making the MLS playoffs fast fading. Now it requires to comeback from two goals down to stay alive in the competition. Taylor has been a sparkling presence evr since coming on for Messi.

Slight hold up in play as Toronto forward Kerr requires medical attention following a head injury. First attack of the half from Miami. Taylor with the ball outside the box. He shoots across his body. Perfect placement and it is goal No. 2

Inter Miami doubles its lead.

Miami has a tough 40 minutes or so to hold on to this lead and make sure it stays alive in the playoff race. Toronto pushing hard to bring the game back alive.

Toronto charges forward in a cunter attack. Bernadeschi puts ina brilliant finish. But his goal is chalked off for offside.

Despite losing Messi and Alba, Miami takes the lead.

It is the stoppage rime of the first half. A cross from the left is only parried away by Romero. Farias runs onto the ball and hits it first time. GOAALL!!!!

Inter Miami leads 1-0 going into the half-time break.

Messi’s withdrawal tilts the game further into Toronto’s corner. The away side has been the dominant of the two so far.

That is it for Messi for the night. Looks like fatigue as he hands over the captain’s arm band to Yedin. He is replaced by Robert Taylor.

Alba taken off. Seems like an injury for the left back. Meanwhile Toronto making some inrads into Miami territory. Osorio with a chance to square the ball into the path of insigne, who could have had a tap in. But he overhits the pass.

Insigne with a switch of play for Bernadeschi. The Italian winger tries to curl one in with his left foot. But it is blocked away by the Miami defence.

Big blow for Toronto. Servania, who had come in a few minutes ago is forced off the pitch with what seems like a knee injury. He is replaced by Ibarra.

Messi has taken the reins for Miami. Greater involvement from the Argentine. He links up with Alba, before receiving the ball inside the box. He evades a couple of challenges, but his shot is blocked away.

First real glimpse of Lionel Messi. Charges forward with the ball from the right wing before shooting with his left foot. It is straight at Romero, who makes an easy save.

Inter Miami gets its first corner of the day. Messi plays it short to Farias, whose cross into the box is collected with ease by Romero. The home side unable to gain a foothold in the game.

Early sub for Toronto. Midfielder Victor Vazquez taken off and is replaced by Servania.

Big chance for Toronto. Kerr steals the ball in the final third. He is one on one with the keeper and he goes for the bottom corner. The goalkeeper makes a good save. Kerr gets one more go and this time it is cleared away from the line.

Toronto being brave on possession, opting to play through the Miami pressure with short passes. And the away side has been successful with its strategy so far in the game as it has exerted far more control in this game than Miami.

Big chance early on for Martinez. Defensive error from Toronto and the Miami forward gets a shot on goal from inside the box. But he blazes it high. MISS

Early possession for Miami as Toronto forced to chase he game early on. But it is the away side which wins the first corner of the game. But Miami defence is organised enough to prevent any danger.

Inter Miami with the kick off and the match gets underway. It is a 3-5-2 formation for the home side, with Toronto in a 4-3-3 shape.

Romero; Franklin, Rosted, Bradley, Petretta; Vazquez, Coella, Osorio, Bernardeschi, Kerr, Insigne

https://x.com/InterMiamiCF/status/1704621385274781885?s=20

Inter Miami will be on the lookout to return to winning ways as it takes on Toronto in the MLS Eastern Conference at DRV PNK Stadium on Thursday.

Inter, which was without Lionel Messi, suffered a huge setback in its playoff race after it fell to a 5-2 loss to Atlanta last week, its first defeat since the arrival of the Argentine talisman.

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When does the match start?

The MLS match between Inter Miami and Toronto will kick off at 5 am IST at the DRV PNK Stadium on September 21.

Where can I watch the MLS match between Inter Miami and Toronto?

The match can be live streamed on Apple TV+ in India. The match unfortunately, will not be telecast in India.