Messi Scores Again, but Miami Suffer Another Defeat

Lionel Messi found the back of the net once again, but none of his teammates could join him on the scoresheet. As a result, Inter Miami were left without a win for the fifth consecutive match in all competitions.

Miami suffered a 2-1 defeat to Toronto FC at home in an MLS match on Sunday morning. Despite dominating much of the game, they once again walked away empty-handed.

Inter Miami enjoyed nearly 60 percent of possession and managed 10 shots, with three on target. However, they could only find the net once.

Toronto, meanwhile, had just four shots throughout the match, with two of them on target—and both ended up in the back of the net.

Toronto thought they had taken the lead in the 11th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Eight minutes later, Rodrigo De Paul played Luis Suárez through on goal, but the veteran striker fired his effort wide.

Before half-time, Germán Berterame also had several chances created by Messi, but he was unable to finish any of them.

Miami suffered another setback early in the second half when left-back Sergio Reguilón was forced off in the 58th minute with what appeared to be a possible injury. It proved to be a turning point in the match.

Just a minute later, Toronto took the lead. After a slick passing move between their players, Josh Sargent found the bottom corner with a left-footed strike from outside the box.

Toronto doubled their advantage only three minutes later. Following another attack, Derek Etienne reacted quickest to a loose ball near the goal and calmly finished to make it 2-0.

Miami came close to falling even further behind in the 81st minute when Giorgi Mihailovic's effort was cleared off the goal line by Ian Fray.

A minute later, however, Miami finally pulled one back. De Paul split the defence with a perfectly weighted pass, and Messi needed just one touch inside the box to send the ball into the net.

It was Messi's 14th goal of the season and the 923rd goal of his professional career.

But Miami could not find another equaliser, and Messi's goal ultimately proved to be nothing more than a consolation as they suffered another defeat.

The loss leaves Inter Miami further behind in the MLS title race. They remain on 39 points after 21 matches, with 11 wins and six draws in the Eastern Conference. Nashville SC sit top of the table with 49 points from the same number of games.