MIAMI, FL. – Inter Miami CF earned a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Wednesday night. Facundo Farías continued his strong form with a strike to open the scoring, while substitutes Robert Taylor, who earned Heineken Star of the Match honors, and Benjamin Cremaschi carried the momentum with goals of their own to secure the home win.
“After a loss, what you want is to recover as quickly as possible. Fortunately, we recovered with today’s game,” said head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino.
Drake Callender started in goal; DeAndre Yedlin, Tomás Avilés, Sergii Kryvtsov, Kamal Miller and Jordi Alba started in defense; Sergio Busquets, David Ruiz and Farías lined up in midfield; captain Lionel Messi and Josef Marteinez started in attack.
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Proceedings started with an early chance for Martínez after the team won the ball in a dangerous area with a high press.
The teams traded chances and substitutions in the ensuing minutes through the first half, but the first strike came from the hosts just before halftime; substitute Noah Allen whipped a cross into the box that was punched away by the Toronto goalkeeper, but Farías was quickest to react, connecting with a spectacular volley to take the 1-0 lead. The goal was Farías’ third in six MLS matches.
Inter Miami was able to add to its lead early in the second half through a spectacular finish from substitute Taylor. Allen played a simple ball to Taylor by the corner of the box, and the Finnish winger cut in, beat several defenders surging to his right, and blasted a low shot back across his body. The shot found the inside of the far post and beat the Toronto goalkeeper to extend the lead to 2-0. The goal was Taylor’s third in MLS and seventh across all competitions this season, while the assist was Allen’s second.
A third goal came in the 73rd minute for the hosts, featuring two more substitutes; Leonardo Campana and Benjamin Cremaschi connected near midfield to begin the attack, and Cremaschi drove forward and played a ball for Taylor down the right wing before continuing his run into the box. The young Homegrown midfielder received the return pass from Taylor in the box and struck from a tight angle to make it 3-0. The goal was Cremaschi’s second in MLS this season and third overall, while the assist was Taylor’s sixth in league play and 12th across all competitions in 2023.
Taylor was then able to secure his brace in the 87th minute; the versatile attacker received a scooped pass from Farías inside the right side of the box before smashing the ball into the back of the net with a powerful right-footed strike into the roof of the netting, putting Inter Miami up 4-0 on the scoreboard.
The scoreline then stood for the remaining minutes, allowing Inter Miami to earn all three points in the 4-0 win. The team is now unbeaten in its past nine matches at DRV PNK Stadium across all competitions.
Next Inter Miami will hit the road to face in-state rivals Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Scoring Summary:
MIA – Facundo Farías 45’+3’, Robert Taylor (Noah Allen) 54’, Benjamin Cremaschi (Robert Taylor) 73’, Robert Taylor (Facundo Farías) 87’
Lineups / Substitutions:
Inter Miami CF – GK Drake Callender; D DeAndre Yedlin, Tomás Avilés (Dixon Arroyo 65’), Sergii Kryvtsov, Kamal Miller, Jordi Alba (Noah Allen 35’); M Sergio Busquets, David Ruiz (Benjamin Cremaschi 65’), Facundo Farías; F Lionel Messi © (Robert Taylor 37’), Josef Martínez (Leonardo Campana 65’)
Unused Substitutes – GK CJ dos Santos; D Ryan Sailor; F Nicolás Stefanelli, Robbie Robinson
Toronto FC – GK Tomás Romero; D Raoul Petretta (Themi Antonoglou 69’), Michael Bradley, Sigurd Rosted, Kobe Franklin; M Jonathan Osorio, Alonso Coello (Latif Blessing 70’), Víctor Vázquez (Brandon Servania 12’) (Franco Ibarra 26’); F Lorenzo Insigne, Deandre Kerr (C.J, Sapong 69’), Federico Bernardeschi
Unused Substitutes – GK Luka Gavran; D Shane O’Neill, Aimé Mabika F Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty
Details of the Game:
Date: September 20, 2023
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Stadium: DRV PNK Stadium
Attendance: 19,659
Stats:
Possession:
MIA – 60.5%
TOR – 39.5%
Shots:
MIA – 13
TOR – 8
Saves:
MIA – 2
TOR – 1
Corners:
MIA – 3
TOR – 4
Fouls:
MIA – 17
TOR – 6
Photo/InterMiamiCF
Inter Miami CF contributed to this column
