<p>Inter Miami thrashed Toronto FC 4-0 on Wednesday, overcoming a Lionel Messi injury scare to raise their Major League Soccer playoff prospects.</p>
<p>After missing Saturday’s 5-2 loss against Atlanta due to muscular soreness, Messi was back in the starting lineup today, although he looked uneasy as he departed the field in the 38th minute.<img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-192464″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-assam-the-congress-reports-cm-sarma-to-the-police-for-making-a-hate-speech-in-mp-r-750×422.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com assam the congress reports cm sarma to the police for making a hate speech in mp r” width=”1473″ height=”829″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-assam-the-congress-reports-cm-sarma-to-the-police-for-making-a-hate-speech-in-mp-r-750×422.jpg 750w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-assam-the-congress-reports-cm-sarma-to-the-police-for-making-a-hate-speech-in-mp-r-1024×576.jpg 1024w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-assam-the-congress-reports-cm-sarma-to-the-police-for-making-a-hate-speech-in-mp-r-768×432.jpg 768w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-assam-the-congress-reports-cm-sarma-to-the-police-for-making-a-hate-speech-in-mp-r-390×220.jpg 390w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-assam-the-congress-reports-cm-sarma-to-the-police-for-making-a-hate-speech-in-mp-r-150×84.jpg 150w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-assam-the-congress-reports-cm-sarma-to-the-police-for-making-a-hate-speech-in-mp-r.jpg 1296w” sizes=”(max-width: 1473px) 100vw, 1473px” title=”Inter Miami defeated Toronto 4-0 when Lionel Messi came on in the first half 6″></p>
<p>Jordi Alba, a former teammate of his from Barcelona who had also skipped the trip to Atlanta, left the game in pain three minutes earlier.</p>
<p>The two are now ruled out of Sunday’s Florida derby against Orlando City, according to Miami coach Gerardo Martino, who was also unsure of their participation in the US Open Cup final the following week.</p>
<p>“We must go day by day, review the doctor’s report, listen to what they have to say, and make a decision. There is obviously no “chance” that they will be there on Sunday, he added.</p>
<p>“I don’t believe it is anything more or different than what they have been experiencing. He justified the choice to play them by saying, “It’s simply weariness; I don’t believe there is a muscle injury.</p>
<p>Everything was set up so that the players could play. There is no chance that they were forced to participate. If we forced them to play, it was because they were physically capable.</p>
<p>I don’t have the same negativity I had when I had to take them out after talking to them, he remarked.</p>
<p>Miami easily defeated the Eastern Conference’s lowest team despite missing their star and one of their most important players, with Messi’s substitute Robert Taylor scoring twice after coming on.</p>
<p>At the stroke of halftime, Facundo Farias scored with a powerful volley after Toronto goalkeeper Tomas Romero had clumsily palmed a cross from Noah Allen.</p>
<p>Collaborative mindset</p>
<p>After gliding across the box from the left and firing a brilliantly angled shot back into the bottom corner, Taylor then made it 2-0 with a spectacular solo goal in the 54th minute.</p>
<p>In order to make it 3-0, Taylor then switched roles, unleashing another replacement, Benjamin Cremaschi, who shot between Romero’s legs.</p>
<p>The fourth goal, scored by Finland international Taylor after intercepting a floating ball over the top from Farias, capped off an impressive display.</p>
<p>Even if Messi and Alba could need more time to regain their health, Miami will feel confident that they can continue to compete for the postseason thanks to the performance of Taylor, Cremaschi, and other replacements.</p>
<p>Goalkeeper Drake Callender remarked, “It shows guys are willing to step up, shows the depth we have on our team, and shows the collective mentality we approach each game with.”</p>
<p>Miami moves up to 13th in the Eastern Conference and is now just five points behind Wayne Rooney’s D.C. United, who are in ninth place and the last playoff slot. Miami travels to Orlando on Sunday. Miami has two games left to play.</p>
<p>Atlanta held D.C. United to a 1-1 tie at home, while Miami also benefited from other victories.</p>
<p>After Charlotte, who Miami must play twice, let a two-goal lead to slip in a 2-2 draw at home to Philadelphia, giving up a stoppage time penalty that Daniel Gazdag converted, they are now only two points ahead of Florida.</p>
<p>Philadelphia was assured a playoff spot thanks to the draw.</p>
<p>The Columbus Crew defeated the Chicago Fire 3-0 to seal their spot in the playoffs, with Colombian Cucho Hernandez scoring all three goals in the first 23 minutes, the second-fastest hat trick in MLS history.</p>
<p>The tenth-placed New York City defeated the second-placed Orlando City 2-0 at home to maintain their playoff aspirations. Orlando is already assured of a spot in the postseason despite the loss.</p>
<p>To tie Montreal for eighth place, Eastern Conference leaders Cincinnati needed a goal from Argentina’s Luciano Acosta late in stoppage time.</p>
<p>Leaders St.Louis City in the Western Conference were held to a scoreless draw by champions Los Angeles FC at home.</p>
Inter Miami defeated Toronto 4-0 when Lionel Messi came on in the first half
