FT: Inter Miami CF 2-1 Toronto FC – Game thread, preview and how to watch
live game thread
FT: The referee blows the final whistle after Bernardeschi was brought down in the penalty area, a frustrating night for TFC.
81′ – Insigne runs through midfield and shoots, Callender saves.
72′ – Captain Michael Bradley fires a shot from outside the box but Callender gets behind it to save.
71′ – Scorer (fortunately) Jean Mota is replaced by Bryce Duke.
67′ – A questionable decision by the referee as Laryea dribbles past his defender and goes down in the penalty area, but the referee blows the whistle in favor of Miami…
62′ – Two substitutions for TFC: Achara for Ayo Akinola, Deandre Kerr for Jayden Nelson.
59′ – The free kick is taken by Bernardeschi and blocked by the Miami wall.
58′ – Another trademark of Laryea, running through the center of the field, ends with a Jonathan Osorio free-kick.
46′ – At the start of the second half, Bernardeschi sent a pass back to Insigne at the top of the box. Insigne’s shot goes over the bar.
HT – Inter Miami CF 2-1 Toronto FC.
44′ – DESTINATION INTER MIAMI. A free-kick from the hosts goes to the far post, Damion Lowe scores, his header goes over the goal. Ariel Lassiter completes the playoffs.
38′ – Free-kick won by Laryea, executed by Bernardeschi when his powerful shot from outside the box went over the bar.
28′ – TOR TORONTO FC. CHE GOAL DI LORENZO INSIGNE. THE WINGER HITS THE BALL PERFECTLY AS HE COMES DOWN AFTER A DISPOSED SHOT BY BERNARDESCHI. WE ARE LEVEL.
24′ – DESTINATION INTER MIAMI. The hosts open the scoring with a goal from Jean Mota. Big mistake by goalkeeper Alex Bono when he missed the ball.
22′ – A Lorenzo Insigne free-kick is blocked by Miami’s wall.
16′ – Free-kick for Higuain on the end line, his shot sails over the bar.
12′ – Nice play by the Reds again by Laryea, makes the run over the line and cuts it back for Bernardeschi. The Italian winger’s flick goes over the bar.
9′ – Bold effort by Federico Bernardeschi! He tries to roll the ball in from a corner, but Miami keeper Drake Callender saves it for another corner.
8th’ – Good job on the right by TFC as Richie Laryea wins a corner.
1′ – And we’re headed out of the Sunshine State!
7:30 p.m. EST – Get your final scores in our prediction league!
7:25 p.m. EST – Ayo Akinola gets a second straight start as he leads the line for Toronto.
7:05 p.m. EST – This is a crucial game for the Reds as a win would take them to 33 points with Miami.
7:00 p.m. EST – Toronto FC take on Miami in Fort Lauderdale for the first time since last year when they were defeated 3-0 on October 20th. Scorers for Miami that night were Federico Higuain, Christian Makoun (whom TFC just saw as he is now with New England) and an own goal from Eriq Zavaleta.
start XI
Head coach Bob Bradley is rolling with the same starting XI after Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution. There are two changes in the substitutes list: Kadin Chung and Jordan Perruzza are on the bench, while Shane O’Neill and Jesus Jiménez are absent on the day of the game.
Former Toronto FC midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo will start for the hosts, as will former Real Madrid and Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain.
Game Preview about Adam Palermo
Toronto FC take on Inter Miami in a crucial Eastern Conference game on Saturday night.
After losing points at home to a team ahead of them in the standings, the Toronto side must realize the importance of a game against another group fighting for the playoffs.
Domenico Criscito’s second-half smash against the Revolution on Wednesday night gave the Reds a decent but less than ideal result. With just eight games left and ground to gain, turning draws into wins will be paramount at the end of the regular season.
Toronto were the better team in the last 2-2 draw at home but couldn’t convert their chances. The Reds dominated shot totals 19 to 6 and failed to capitalize on their chances. Ayo Akinola had a chance to start in place of Jesus Jimenez but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Bob Bradley should expect more from who plays between Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi. The two Italian wingers (Bernardeschi in particular) played quality ball after quality ball into the box against New England to no real effect.
With four games unbeaten, attention now turns to another team who are unbeaten in four games, Inter Miami CF. TFC will take on Phil Neville’s Inter Miami for the first time this season as both sides look to continue their strong form in the league.
Toronto FC will have a lot of work to do against a group they are not having much luck against. TFC have beaten Inter Miami once in four tries, earning their only win in their first-ever game against the club in November 2020.
The Boys in Red will face off against a familiar face in Florida. 2020 MLS MVP Alejandro Pozuelo will seek revenge on Saturday night as he plays his former side for the first time after moving to Miami in July.
The Spanish playmaker seems to have settled into his new surroundings and is looking radiant in the Sunshine State. The TFC centurion has recorded two goals and three assists during his new club’s four unbeaten games. Pozuelo is also the youngest MLS Player of the Week after providing a brace and an assist in Miami’s last game in a comeback win over New York City FC.
Pozuelo’s arrival has apparently allowed Gonzalo Higuain to find his best self. The Argentine has scored five goals in six games since Pozuelo’s debut at Inter Miami, including a hat-trick in the 4-4 draw with FC Cincinnati.
game details
Opponents: Inter Miami
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
See: TSN
Stadium: DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.