Toronto FC Hold Inter Miami to 1-1 Tie in MLS Clash

Though it wasn’t enough for either team to tilt the scales in their favor in a 1-1 draw between host Inter Miami and Toronto FC on Sunday night in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Lionel Messi and Federico Bernardeschi each scored goals.

For Inter Miami (4-0-2, 14 points), who fell out of first position in the Eastern Conference standings following a game many had anticipated it to win versus Toronto (0-4-3, 3 points), the outcome was especially disappointing.

Given Inter Miami was able to have fellow players Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets also in the starting lineup and Messi start and play the length of the game, the outcome was even more frustrating.

Inter Miami also had two goals wiped out: one from an off-side call and the other from a foul called on Messi moments before he unleashed a magnificent effort into the back of the net. Late in the first half Messi’s shot seemed to give Inter Miami a 1-0 lead.

Rather Toronto, the first-ranked city Bernardeschi controlled a cross from Lorenzo Insigne in the 47th minute, and despite two Miami defenders challenging him in front of the goal, touched it just out of reach of a sliding Drake Callender, Miami’s goalie.

Following a fleeting debut in Inter Miami’s MLS game last week against Philadelphia, Callender started his season.

Messi collected a ball at the top of the box from Telasco Segovia and left-footed it from distance beyond Toronto goalie Sean Johnson, answering nearly immediately in the fifth minute of first half stoppage time.

Messi’s third MLS goal of the year came sixth overall among all competitions. In the 29th minute Inter Miami seemed to have a 1-0 lead when Messi and Luis Suarez set up a drive from the top of the box by Segovia, who scored. Suarez was decided, nevertheless, to have been offside.