Inter Miami 4-0 Toronto FC – MLS LIVE: Both Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba forced OUT with injury in first half but Robert Taylor fires in a late fourth

The Herons simply outclassed their opponents despite Toronto relying on the likes of Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernadeschi – two highly-talented players with experience of playing for some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Oh well…it just wasn’t meant to be Toronto’s night after all, it’s fair to say…and as developments around Messi and Alba’s respective injuries continue to come in, we’ll make sure to keep you up to date with their statuses ahead of next Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup Final.

Until then, from all of at MailSport, we wish you all a very goodnight!

Yep, the moment you’ve all been waiting for tonight folks…FUN FACT TIME.

Here’s a stat from Opta on Messi: the Argentine was substituted off before halftime for just the eighth time in 937 career starts in his senior career and the first since October 2018.

Ever so reliable, Miami’s star captain is always their for his team.

Messi removed his armband and was substituted in the first half — a worrying sight in general but especially ahead of next Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup final. Will he be fit in time by then?

The bigger question is: will his injury keep him out of Miami’s hopes to reach the playoffs? The Herons are five points off ninth place – the last playoff spot with six games remaining following tonight’s win.

Who’s up next? Miami will face Orlando City on Saturday…a tough matchup considering that the latter sits in second of the Eastern Conference.

‘We took away our chances’ – Taylor said in his postgame comments, adding that only tonight’s result matters in the grand scheme of things, considering Miami’s final next week and Messi’s injury scare.

Miami’s result will be highly encouraging prior to next weekend’s U.S. Open Cup Final. You’ve got to say that many of their substitutes have been impactful tonight and manager Tata Martino will hope for more of the same in next weekend’s big game against the Houston Dynamo.

Can he get a hattrick?! The winger collects a chip from Farias in behind Toronto’s defense before controlling the ball once and laying the half-volley into the back of the net. What a second-half showing this has been from the Herons…

Straight out of nowhere, the Italian produces a fabulous piece of skill as he gets himself right outside Miami’s box before finding space for a shot from 18 yards out. Callender was at full stretch but the post saved him and preserved his clean sheet! For now…

Fans of the home side are starting to have a bit of fun as we enter the final 10 minutes of tonight’s game…the Herons are still in possession too…at this point, this is just a training exercise rather than a match.

A break with devastating effect is led by Taylor, who dishes a pass off to Campana inside the 18-yard box. The Ecuadorian manages to get a diagonal shot off the right side of the penalty box, only for it to go just wide of Romero’s right post.

The American, who earned his first senior cap earlier this month, started play in the buildup to the goal as he continued his run into the right side of the box before burying the ball past Romero and into the empty night.

Good first goal from one of MLS’ brightest talents.

So, Latif Blessing comes on for midfielder Alonso Coello, while C.J. Sapong replaces striker Deandre Kerr, who hit the post in the first half. Themi Antonoglou has also come in for Ralou Petretta in the back.

Insigne and Bernadeschi – arguably Toronto’s two main threats – remain in the game.

Cremaschi tries his luck by his shot is comfortably saved by Toronto’s No. 1 who has arguably been the busiest of the two goalkeepers on the pitch tonight…

And it looks like the Venezuelan’s night is done after blowing a few opportunities in the first half. The former Atlanta striker’s performance has been impacted by Messi’s injury worry.

US international midfielder Benajmin Cremaschi replaces David Ruiz and Dixon Arroyo is subbed in for Tom Aviles, who appears to have sustained a cramp or injury in another blow for Miami.

Both players were injured prior to the start of the international break earlier this month and are facing setbacks with the US Open Cup Final just seven days away…

The Argentine added that both substitutions were ‘unexpected’ and that they will only know if both players’ injuries are serious following evaluation in the upcoming days.

Miami’s No. 16 picks up a pass from Noah Allen before cutting in from the left and running across the box with Toronto’s defense asleep prior to burying a laser into the lower left side of the net.

Fantastic piece of individual skill from the Finn! Surely, Miami’s done enough to collect all three points this evening.

Miami win their first corner of the second half and the ball is played into the far post before it is headed into the path of Aviles, who tries to curl one from distance but it never looked as if it would trouble Romero.

The Herons are seeing more of the ball as the second half goes on but it was a cagey affair at first, as Toronto’s growing more and more into this game. The Canadians have nothing to play for as they know they lie in last place of the Eastern Conference.

Another layoff for Miami!!! Bernadeschi slid the ball into the back of the next after going solo on a counterattack, taking out two or three Miami defenders in the process. What a goal that would’ve been…

The Italian has seemed lively tonight, particularly in his link-up play with Insigne.

And we’re off for 45 more minutes of action! Can Miami preserve the lead? They need to walk off the pitch with all three points tonight in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.

With Messi being substituted, it looks like the former Newcastle man has taken the captain’s armband from the Argentine.

That’s right, folks…a few Inter Miami fans are leaving DRV Pink Stadium following Messi’s injury just a few minutes before halftime, despite their team leading after the break!

Another fan suggested that Messi held Miami back as his teammates managed to score just minutes after he left the pitch.

Social media really is something else…

The Herons go into the break with the need for readjustment after losing two key players, Messi and Alba, but have done just enough to be in the lead following a few chances from Martinez, Messi, and Farias.

Will Toronto heavily rely on Bernadeschi and Insigne to claw back into tonight’s match in the second?

Only time will tell….so stay tuned for more of our coverage after the break!

The Herons seem to be managing the game well before halftime and Farias, in particular, tried a filthy piece of skill by taking two Toronto players out in midfield. Hopefully, we’ll have a clip for you later showing that.

Finally! A breakthrough!! Noah Allen gets a cross into the box that’s parried away by Toronto’s goalkeeper – Tomas Romero – but the ball lands in Farias’ path. The midfielder hits it first time into the open net!! What a strike!!

The goal has certainly lifted the mood at DRV PNK Stadium.

Miami’s No. 10 seems frustrated with his exit and could be asked to do some tests while his teammates play the second half as the Herons’ medical staff will want to know what’s wrong with their star player as soon as possible!

There have been so many delays in this game that it’s not hard to understand the lengthy amount of time added before the break.

There was a bit of a water break ever since Messi left the pitch in the 38th minute. Both teams are being observed taking in instructions from their respective coaches.

That’s according to tonight’s sideline reporter on Apple TV, who also revealed that Messi is sitting next to his longtime pal, Jordi Alba, who is holding an icebag to his leg. Nothing seems to be too concerning about Messi’s injury for now. We’ll keep you updated with any progress on the matter.

The one player who has increased his form over the last couple of months has come on for Messi, who gets a standing ovation from the crowd.

The superstar seems frustrated to be exiting tonight’s game with an injury after standing still on the pitch over the last few minutes, holding his calf.

There’s been a lot of substitutions due to injury this half as both teams have been forced to make two changes already…

It looks like the ex-Barcelona full-back has left the pitch due to injury…

So uncharacteristic of Jonathan Rosario, who starts the play before getting in behind Miami’s defense and laying a pass across Miami’s goal for a teammate to tap it in. No one was there, however! Incredible! Many let-downs in this game so far…

Miami’s high press is working effectively as Toronto forward Lorenzo Insigne is looking quite isolated up front…both of the Herons’ fullbacks, Jordi Alba and DeAndre Yedlin, have only been involved in tonight’s game offensively, so far.

It looks like Franco Ibarra will come on for Brandon Servania, who only lasted a quarter of an hour after replacing Victor Vasquez.

Midfielder David Ruiz wins the ball back for Miami before passing it and a delicious cross lands in Messi’s path at the far post. The former Barca man steers his volley just too high above the goal.

Toronto’s defense has been all over the place in the last five minutes of this game!

This time the Argentine’s shot is blocked after he gets past three Toronto FC defenders inside the box. The move started with Messi’s back against the goal before he cuts inside and lets his feet do the talking, as usual.

The 36-year-old collects the ball and runs into space before managing to get a shot off, which is comfortably saved by Romero. Still 0-0 after 18 minutes played, but plenty of action so far!

Alba plays a high ball into Martinez’s path who fends off a defender before pulling a shot wide of Tomas Romero’s goal!

So unlucky from Deandre Kerr! He gets in behind Miami’s defense and is one-on-one against Drake Callendar, who saves a low strike to his left before Kerr hits the rebound off the post.

What a let down for Miami!!

There’s been a switch in midfield for Toronto as Messi’s former Barcelona teammate – Vasquez – is being replaced due to injury. He almost gifted Miami the lead when Martinez’s shot went well over the bar in the opening 10 minutes

Messi and Co. will keep on pushing for the floodgates to open but Toronto’s defense has been able to play out of Miami’s high press so far this evening.

The 29-year-old has scored 13 goals and has registered 7 assists in 38 matches since moving to Canada last year. His contributions aren’t merely positive for a team that sits last in the Eastern Conference with 23 points from 29 matches played.

The man who’s normally clinical inside the area couldn’t hit the target. ‘

Toronto midfielder Victor Vazquez, who used to play with Messi at Barcelona, loses the ball a little ahead of his goalkeeper’s box and Jose Martinez is the first player to react before blazing his shot well over the bar.

A let off for Toronto!

The Herons are playing in their typical all-pink kit and are already applying pressure high-up the pitch in a nervy start for Toronto.

An eight-minute first-half collapse saw Miami fall from 1-0 up to 3-1 down, and their unlikely playoff push take an almighty hit in the process…it was Thiago Almeda who caught the eye in Messi’s absence.

Tonight’s game was supposed to start at 7.30 E.T. but it appears that there will be a slight delay by just a couple of minutes.

The Argentine, who has scored 11 goals in as many games for Miami over the past two months, slipped into dad support by observing Inter Miami’s Under-12 team play last month

The Herons will want to collect as many points as they can from here on in. They are seven points adrift from ninth place D.C. United who are in the team in the final series playoffs spot in the Eastern Conference.

The France U-21 manager, who also happens to be the national team’s top scorer, says there was no structure for Messi while he was still playing for the Ligue 1 champions. Read more:

Soccer fans might recognize a household name or two in the Canadians’ lineup tonight: Federico Bernadeschi and Lorenzo Insigne. Both joined the club last year, respectively from Juventus and Napoli

The Herons are lining up the World Cup winner with Josef Martinez in attack as it seems that Messi will be playing as some sort of secondary striker. Miami’s captain will have two of his closest pals at the club, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, lining up in midfield and at left-back.

The Herons will be looking to bounce back after their heavy, 5-2 loss to Atlanta United last Saturday, while Toronto will look to recover from a 2-1 loss to Canadian rivals, Vancouver.

Messi is also set to feature for Miami for the first time since the international break! The 36-year-old was rested for Argentina’s latest game – a 3-0 win against Bolivia – and Miami’s Tata Martino was reluctant to get him involved against Atlanta after getting back to the U.S. from his homeland only shortly beforehand.

How will the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner fare this evening? Will he keep Miami’s slim hopes of reaching the playoffs alive? Let’s find out…