Lionel Messi scored for the second successive match but could not prevent Inter Miami from suffering a 2-1 defeat by Toronto FC in Major League Soccer on Sunday.
Toronto turned the game around with two goals in the second half, scored only three minutes apart. Josh Sargent opened the scoring before Derrick Etienne Jr added a second to put Inter Miami in serious difficulty.
“Josh Sargent gives Toronto the lead in Miami. 🫡📺 Apple TV:”
“ANOTHER ONE for Toronto. They double their lead over Miami. 😳”
Inter Miami responded as Messi pulled one goal back with eight minutes of normal time remaining. The Argentina forward was found by a through ball from international team-mate Rodrigo De Paul and finished first-time into the net.
“RDP –> Messi The duo pulls one back for Miami. 🇦🇷”
The visitors pushed for an equaliser during the closing stages, but Toronto held on to claim a 2-1 victory on home soil.
The goal took Messi’s tally for the season to 14. He had also scored in Inter Miami’s previous match, a 2-2 draw with Philadelphia Union in the last round, meaning he has now found the net in consecutive games.
However, his latest strike could not spare Inter Miami a fourth defeat in their past five matches. The result continues a marked decline in the team’s form over recent weeks and leaves the reigning MLS champions under pressure to recover quickly.
Inter Miami were eliminated from Leagues Cup in the opening round after losing both of their matches. They then suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat by Nashville SC before drawing with Philadelphia Union in midweek.
The Florida side have now gone almost a month without a win in MLS, although they remain second in the Eastern Conference.
Inter Miami need to rediscover their form if they are to remain in the top four and secure home advantage in the opening round of the play-offs. Their current position means they are still within range of that target, but the recent run has reduced their margin for error.
Toronto’s victory lifted them to five wins from 21 league matches this season. They also extended their unbeaten run to four games, strengthening their hopes of competing for a place in the play-offs.
For much of the contest, Inter Miami had been unable to turn their possession and attacking quality into a decisive response after Toronto’s quick double. Messi’s finish offered them a route back into the match, but Toronto’s defence resisted the late pressure and secured a result that could prove important in its own campaign.
The defeat leaves Inter Miami with growing concerns over their short-term momentum, despite their continued position near the top of the Eastern Conference. Toronto, meanwhile, will take encouragement from another unbeaten performance as they attempt to close the gap on the play-off places.
