Messi scores and puts on a show as Inter Miami rallies to draw Toronto FC 1-1

By Canadian Press on April 6, 2025.

FORT LAUDERDALE — Lionel Messi’s goal in first-half stoppage time lifted Inter Miami CF into a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC in an entertaining MLS game Sunday.

Toronto (0-4-3) has yet to win this season but, after four straight losses, is showing real signs of life with Sunday’s performance and last week’s scoreless draw with the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps.

Both teams had chances to win the game with the clock winding down but could not take advantage.

Miami (4-0-2) came into weekend play atop the Supporters’ Shield standings, 11 points and 25 places ahead of TFC.

It marked Toronto’s first-ever point at Miami, which is 8-2-1 all-time against TFC having won all five previous meetings in Florida.

It was a wide-open affair that saw Toronto hit the woodwork twice in the first 20 minutes, Miami have two goals disallowed in the first half and both goals scored in first-half stoppage time.

The teams combined for 20 shots in the first half alone, with Miami holding a 12-8 edge (5-2 in shots on target). The 37-year-old Messi, who had another goal called back, was dangerous every time he touched the ball.

It was all-out defending from Toronto, with some close calls and players putting their body on the line to stop Miami. But there was also offence from the visitors.

Federico Bernardeschi put Toronto ahead two minutes into first-half injury time after a giveaway by Sergio Busquets, under pressure from Theo Corbeanu, off a Miami throw-in. Lorenzo Insigne got the ball and found Bernardeschi who showed his ball skills in evading three defenders in the penalty box before poking the ball home past Drake Callender for his second of the season.

Messi tied it three minutes later in stoppage time, firing a left-footed shot from just inside the penalty box through Nicksoen Gomis’ legs for his third of the season (and seventh in all competitions). The goal survived video review for a possible earlier Miami foul on Ola Brynhildsen.

It marked Messi’s club-record 44th goal contribution (24 goals, 20 assists) — moving him past Gonzalo Higuaín for the most in regular-season play. Messi did it in 38 fewer games.

Messi, already the club’s all-time leader in assists (20), is now just five goals behind Higuaín (29 goals).

Miami was coming off a 1-0 loss Wednesday at Los Angeles FC in the opening leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal. It marked the Herons’ first setback of the campaign after an 8-0-1 start across all competitions.

Sunday marked Miami’s third game in eight days with a busy week to follow — starting Wednesday with the return leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup tie before a weekend trip to resurgent Chicago.

But coach Javier Mascherano did not give his stars a rest, with Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Busquets all starting.

Toronto coach Robin Fraser made four changes to his starting 11 with Kosi Thompson, Deybi Flores, Corbeanu and Brynhildsen slotting in. There was a third straight start for Insigne, who did not dress the first four games of the season.

Newly signed Toronto midfielder Maxime Dominguez came off the bench in the 73rd minute.

After playing in freezing rain last Saturday at BMO Field, Toronto players found themselves playing in 27 C Sunday at Chase Stadium.

Toronto ‘keeper Sean Johnson was called on early, first to parry a Messi corner that was headed directly at goal in the fourth minute. He had two more stops to make off the ensuing corner, first off a hard-hit Alba volley and then a Telasco Segovia shot off the rebound.

At the other end, Bernardeschi just missed Brynhildsen with a cross in the 14th minute. And Corbeanu hit the Miami crossbar in the 17th minute.

Minute later Corbeanu hit the goalpost again after Callender saved a Brynhildsen shot and the rebound produced another shot that bounced off a defender before finding the Toronto winger.

There was more Messi magic in the 25th minute when he went around Raoul Petretta like he was a traffic cone and then hammered a close-range shot that Johnson stopped with his head.

Segovia scored in the 29th minute, finding the corner of the goal off a Suarez feed, only to see the offside flag go up for Suarez in the buildup.

A diving Johnson saved a Suarez shot in the 38th minute with Brynhildsen off the field receiving attention to stop a cut on the back off his head after a clash of heads with Miami defender Ian Fray.

Messi scored a highlight-reel goal in the 39th minute, pivoting to evade Flores before firing a shot home. Toronto thought Messi had fouled Gomis in the buildup and referee Rubiel Vazquez agreed after video review, negating the goal.

Corbeanu had a glorious chance early in the second half but chose to forgo the shot and pass to Bernardeschi, whose shot flashed wide of the post. Minutes later, Suarez was unable to find the target with a redirect of a cross.

Toronto was without injured defenders Richie Laryea, Zane Monlouis and Henry Wingo as well as wingback Tyrese Spicer and forward Deandre Kerr.

Up next, Toronto hosts Minnesota United on Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2025.

The Canadian Press