Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Inter Miami CF and Toronto FC played a wildly entertaining Leagues Cup 2024 Round of 32 match Thursday night at Chase Stadium. The Herons and the Reds combined for seven goals on the night, with Miami getting the better of Toronto 4-3. Jordi Alba was the Heron’s hero assisting on all four of Miami’s goals.
Starting XI
Drake Callender started in goal for Miami, with Jordi Alba, Tomas Aviles, David Martinez, and Marcelo Weigandt making up the backline. Julian Gressel, Sergio Busquets, and Federico Redondo were the midfield trio. Matias Rojas, Luis Suarez, and Diego Gomez formed the attacking frontline.
Busquets is back commanding the midfield as Tata Martino opts to sit Yannick Bright tonight…Toto Avilés along with David Martinez are the center-back duo…Will Bright be missed, he’s been playing at a fantastic level…#InterMiamiCF #MLS #LeaguesCup2024 #LeaguesCup pic.twitter.com/RYZcCBdKUZ
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 8, 2024
Game Action
The home crowd was barely in their seats when Matias Rojas bombed a left-footed shot into the Toronto net 3-minutes into the match. Rojas settled a Jordi Alba cross and finished with his customary powerful strike.
3-minutes in & Matías Rojas booms a shot into the Toronto net for the #InterMiamiCF 1-0 lead very early in the match…#MLS #LeaguesCup2024 #LeaguesCup
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 8, 2024
The blazing start continued for the Herons when Sergio Busquets launched a precise long-distance pass to Jordi Alba who controlled the ball and served a right-footed dime to a charging Diego Gomez. Gomez culminated the sequence with a low-crossing shot, increasing Miami’s lead to 2-0.
Jordi Alba with the right-footed dime to a charging Diego Gómez who hammers it home for the Herons … #InterMiamiCF leads 2-0 & we aren’t even 15-minutes into the game… Blazing start for Miami#MLS #LeaguesCup2024 #LeaguesCup
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 8, 2024
It seemed as if Inter Miami was going to run away with the match but a silly penalty committed by Marcelo Weigandt gave Toronto life. Lorenzo Insigne executed the kick and cut Miami’s lead to 2-1 in the 15th minute.
Weigandt commits the penalty & Insigne nails the kick to shorten the lead to 2-1…#LeaguesCup2024 #MLS #InterMiamiCF
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 8, 2024
“El Pistolero”, Luis Suarez, increased Miami’s lead to 3-1 in the 2oth minute when he chipped a Jordi Alba cross past the charging Toronto goalkeeper.
Luis Suarez scores the third goal for #InterMiamiCF after a nice fake leaves the Toronto defender behind…The Herons lead 3-1 …Jordi Alba with the 3 assists #LeaguesCup2024 #LeaguesCup
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 9, 2024
Unfortunately, David Martinez was shown a red card in the 28th minute after he brought down Owusu on a breakaway. Just a few minutes later Jordi Alba was called for a penalty on Owusu that led to another Insigne penalty strike to end the wild first-half with the Herons on top 3-2.
A third penalty is called against #InterMiamiCF , Insigne lines up and rifles it passed Callender for the 3-2 score line 41-minutes into the game #LeaguesCup2024 #LeaguesCup #MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 9, 2024
The fireworks continued in the second half when Jordi Alba dished out another assist to Matias Rojas. The Paraguayan scorched the ball to give Miami the 4-2 lead to provide breathing room.
Jordi Alba again with the assist (4) for #InterMiamiCF… Matias Rojas rips another left-footed missile into the Toronto goal to give the Herons some breathing room & a 4-2 lead…#MLS #LeaguesCup2024 #LeaguesCup
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 9, 2024
The final goal of the wild and crazy match was an “own goal” by Noah Allen. Owusu headed a cross that went off Allen’s back providing the final scoreline.
Owusu with the header to bring Toronto closer 4-3 … The Herons need to finish this game , a Toronto goal to tie the match would be disastrous…#MLS #InterMiamiCF #LeaguesCup2024
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 9, 2024
Postgame
Tata Martino decided to start the match with Yannick Bright on the bench. Bright has been one of the best defensive midfielders in the league and it was evident early on that his presence was sorely missed. Miami’s defensive posture was different without the young star on the pitch. I asked Toto Aviles about Bright and how his presence helps Miami’s center-backs,
“Yannick wins lots of challenges in the midfield & helps us a lot”
Bright, provides Miami with a Gregore-like aggressiveness in the midfield with more quality and better decision-making. The former Heron was a fan favorite for his passion and ruggedness; Bright is quickly becoming a fan favorite for that and more.
I asked Tomas Avilés about how Yannick Bright helps the center-backs when he’s on the pitch,
“Yannick wins lots of challenges in the midfield & helps us a lot”#InterMiamiCF #MLS #LeaguesCup2024 #LeaguesCup pic.twitter.com/EFwQU0FCMX— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 9, 2024
Final Thoughts
Thursday night was thrilling for the fans but it can’t be the norm for Miami. To win the Leagues Cup 2024 the Herons will have to be much better defensively. David Martinez will not be available next match so it likely means Busquets will play center-back and Bright will return to the midfield.
Ian Fray is one of the better defenders on the squad, I hope Tata finds a way to give him some minutes in the tournament. Fray is a natural center-back, I don’t understand why he has not played the position for Miami when it is a glaring need.
Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suarez must continue to lead the Herons in Lionel Messi’s absence. The trio still has enough quality to be the difference makers every team needs.
Jordi Alba showed why he is one of the greatest left-backs in history on Thursday night serving up four assists and playing an all-around fantastic match. Hopefully, the ankle injury he suffered against Toronto doesn’t hinder him for the next match.
Miami’s road to a repeat Leagues Cup title is a rough one if they are to win it all again they’ll have to be much better than they were against Toronto.
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