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Inter Miami lost 2-1 to Toronto despite a Lionel Messi goal, extending their winless streak to five matches.
Lionel Messi is 2nd on the Major League Soccer scoring chart. (AP Photo)
Lionel Messi scored again, but Inter Miami’s winless run stretched to five matches Saturday as Toronto FC held on for a 2-1 victory in Miami.
Toronto took control early in the second half, with Josh Sargent opening the scoring in the 59th minute before Derrick Etienne Jr. doubled the lead three minutes later having earlier played a key role in the first goal as well.
Messi pulled one back for Miami in the 82nd minute, finishing after a sensational through ball from fellow Argentine Rodrigo De Paul.
The goal was Messi’s 14th of the season and the 64th in 71 career appearances.
Miami pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages but could not find a way through Toronto’s defense.
Luka Gavran made two saves for Toronto, while Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair finished without a save.
The defeat leaves Miami with four losses and a draw in their last five matches across MLS play and the Leagues Cup, where they were eliminated in the group stage. Miami also fell to 0-2-2 in August.
Despite the slump, Inter Miami remained second in the MLS Eastern Conference, seven games behind leaders Nashville, who have a game in hand.
Robert Lewandowski’s Chicago Fire moved within three points of Miami after a 1-1 draw at the New York Red Bulls.
Toronto, meanwhile, improved to 2-0-2 in its last four matches and 2-1-4 since July 1. The victory was Toronto’s first in Miami.
Inter Miami had beaten Toronto 4-2 in May and still leads the all-time series 9-3-2.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, Orlando City moved into the MLS Cup playoff positions with a 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake. French star Antoine Griezmann, who recently arrived from Atletico Madrid, scored twice in the second half for his first MLS brace after Dominik Marczuk gave Real Salt Lake the lead in the 36th minute.
With Inputs from AP and AFP
About the Author
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience …Read More
August 23, 2026, 11:13 IST
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