Key Takeaways:
- Inter Miami and Toronto drew 1–1 in the 7th round of the MLS season
- Lionel Messi scored a stoppage-time equaliser after Bernardeschi had put Toronto ahead
- Toronto hit the post twice in the first half and remain winless, sitting 14th in the Eastern Conference
Match Analysis
Inter Miami were held to a 1–1 draw at home against Toronto FC in the 7th round of the MLS campaign, a result that cost them top spot in the Eastern Conference table. In a match filled with disallowed goals, missed chances and woodwork rattled on multiple occasions, it was Lionel Messi who ultimately salvaged a point for the Florida-based side with a goal deep into first-half stoppage time.
The deadlock was broken just as the interval approached. In the 45+3 minute, Federico Bernardeschi showcased individual brilliance inside the box, dribbling past two defenders before slotting the ball past Inter Miami goalkeeper to give the visitors a surprise lead.
However, Messi responded almost immediately. Just two minutes later in the 45+5 minute, the Argentine received the ball just outside the penalty area, turned swiftly, and delivered a precise finish that left Toronto’s Sean Johnson rooted to the spot, bringing the score level at 1–1.
🇺🇸 Leo Messi, Inter Miami’s all-time leading goal contributor in MLS with 44 G/A after tonight’s goal.
8 G/A in 8 games for Inter Miami this year, goal again… and 856 career goals for Messi. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/o9gzmO3zlB
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 7, 2025
Momentum Shifts and Missed Opportunities
The match was teeming with incident well before the goals. In the 17th minute, Theodor Corbeanu was unfortunate to see his shot strike the left post. Just two minutes later, the Canadian forward again tested his luck with a low effort, this time hitting the right post.
Inter Miami appeared to have taken the lead midway through the half when Telasco Segovia found the back of the net in the 29th minute, only for the goal to be ruled offside. Ten minutes later, Messi thought he had scored a second, but the effort was disallowed due to a foul committed earlier in the attacking move.
Despite controlling large spells in the second half, Inter Miami failed to capitalise. Luis Suárez squandered a golden opportunity, missing in front of an unguarded net. And in the dying moments of injury time, substitute Fafà Picault blazed a shot over the bar from just two metres out, leaving the home fans in disbelief.
Current Standings
The draw saw Inter Miami drop to second place in the Eastern Conference with 14 points, although they have played one game fewer than table-toppers Columbus Crew. Toronto, meanwhile, remain winless and rooted near the bottom in 14th place, with just 3 points from their opening fixtures.