Inter Miami CF (2W-2L-0D, 6 pts) fell to Toronto FC 2-0 in frigid weather north of the border at BMO Field on Saturday evening.
Lineup Notes
Inter Miami took the field with two changes to its starting XI from its previous match. Callender remained the starter in goal; Harvey Neville, Sergii Kryvtsov, Chris McVey and Franco Negri lined up in defense; Bryce Duke and Jean Mota formed the team’s double pivot in midfield with Corentin Jean, Nicolás Stefanelli and Rodolfo Pizarro in front of them; striker Josef Martínez led the team in attack.
Martínez opened the match wearing the captain’s armband for the first time as an Inter Miami player tonight in the absence of captain Gregore. Harvey Neville, meanwhile, made his first MLS start in the match while Duke started for the first time in 2023, doing so against former coach Bob Bradley, who managed him at LAFC. Neville’s start also made MLS history, as it marked the first time a father and son duo of coach and player faced another such pairing in an MLS match, with the Nevilles facing Bob and Michael Bradley. Jake LaCava appeared on the bench, marking the first time he featured in a matchday squad with Inter Miami.
Match Action
An even first half saw the two sides probing each other for openings and creating a few chances, but the defenses and goalkeepers held firm through the first 45 minutes. Notably, Callender made a few saves, including one in the third minute, leaving his line and making himself big to deny Raoul Petretta, and a similar one just before halftime to deny Federico Bernardeschi. Callender’s save on the Italian marked his 100th in MLS regular season action thus far in his career.
Inter Miami had a few chances of its own, including two quick transition opportunities within the first 10 minutes. First, Stefanelli played a ball for Jean down the right wing, who then crossed to Pizarro on the left side of the box, but his shot was saved. Then, Jean made a run down the right wing and cut a pass back to Stefanelli, but his driven low shot heading for the far post drew a sprawling save by Toronto’s keeper.
The hosts then picked things up to start the second half, opening the scoring in the 48th minute when Richie Laryea delivered a low ball across the face of goal to Jonathan Osorio, who connected with the pass and slotted it home to take the 1-0 lead.
Toronto sealed the proceedings with a second goal in the 69th minute; Bernardeschi sent a free kick delivery to the far post, meeting Mark-Anthony Kaye, whose looping header found the back of the net at the far post to make it 2-0, the score that would hold through the final whistle.
Post-Match Reaction
"This is the next stage of our development...We need to learn very fast, particularly in the MLS where away games are brutally tough, and you cannot make individual errors," said head coach Phil Neville.
Next Match
Next Inter Miami will return home to DRV PNK Stadium to face the Chicago Fire on Saturday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Stats
Possession:
TOR - 48%
MIA - 52%
Shots:
TOR - 12
MIA - 9
Saves:
TOR - 3
MIA - 4
Corners:
TOR - 5
MIA - 4
Fouls:
TOR - 9
MIA - 14
