Miami settle for a draw in a pulsating encounter against Toronto

Inter Miami 1 – 1 Toronto FC

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL–Inter Miami extended their unbeaten run this season with a draw against an energetic Toronto side that tested the Herons, who will be disappointed not to secure all three points.

The game was littered with goal-scoring opportunities, but a combination of good goalkeeping, poor finishing, and bad luck kept the scores down.

Lionel Messi was a constant threat to Toronto and a constant source of entertainment for the crowd, with some moments of class throughout the game.

He went on a mazy run as soon as the third minute, which resulted in a corner. The Inter captain took it himself and found Jordi Alba on the edge of the box, who hit it sweetly on the volley but was well saved by Sean Johnson.

Ola Brynhildsen had an excellent chance for Toronto, but when the cross came over, he timed his jump all wrong, and the chance was lost. Moments later Theo Corbeanu hit the near post with a clean strike as Drake Calendar’s goal was under threat.

The Miami goal was enjoying a charmed life. When it seemed a Toronto goal was inevitable, some desperate Miami defending saw shots blocked. Corbeanu hit the post for the second time in as many minutes, and somehow, the ball stayed out of the Miami net.

But no sooner had the Miami defense been close to conceding the first goal, the game switched as Miami got on the front foot.

Some good build-up play between Alba and Messi, combined with the running of Robert Taylor and Telasco Sergovia, was causing Toronto problems and created the space for Messi to do his magic.

The Herons had the ball in the net after Messi snuck in to beat Johnson, but he was correctly adjudged to have committed a foul in the build-up to the strike.

As halftime approached, it seemed we were heading to the break goalless. However, things changed quickly.

Sergio Busquets lost possession in his own half, and Toronto took full advantage. A quick cross found Federico Bernardeschi, who, with three defenders and Drake Callender for close company, managed to stumble his way through and find the net.

But deep into added time, Miami kept going, and Messi got rewarded for his effort throughout the first forty-five minutes.

A typical Miami quick counterattack found the diminutive frontman with the ball on the edge of the area. He left the keeper standing with a quick-fire strike that found the bottom corner to level the scores.

The second half started even more frantically, and Toronto should have tested Callender early on, at the very least. However, Corbeanu’s indecision labored the opportunity, and Miami was able to clear when a goal seemed likely.

Luis Suarez was also guilty when he had his best chance of the game when he got on the end of a cross, but he couldn’t adjust his feet quickly enough.

Miami tried to control the game, and they had plenty of the ball, but the Toronto players were fired up, and the home side didn’t have things their own way. Despite being under pressure, the Toronto midfield found some space and threatened to break using Bernardeschi’s trickery.

Miami substitute Allen Obando almost bundled the ball home when a bad back pass exposed the Toronto defenders, but some last-ditch defending saved their blushes.

And there was almost late drama when both goals were under attack with a flurry of corners. Calendar had to be alert when a near post effort nearly snuck in, but the big keeper was equal to it.

Fafa Picault could have wrapped things up when he met a Messi cross in the dying seconds but couldn’t quite connect cleanly, and the game ended as a draw.

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