Inter Miami 0-0 Toronto FC – MLS LIVE: Lionel Messi starts on his return but Jordi Alba is forced out injured early on in crucial clash in playoff race

So says tonight’s sideline reporter on Apple TV, who also revealed Messi sitting next to his old friend Jordi Alba, who is holding an ice pack to his leg. For the time being, there appears to be nothing worrying about Messi’s injury. We will keep you informed of any progress on this matter.

The only player to improve his form in recent months comes in for Messi, who receives a standing ovation from the crowd.

The superstar appears frustrated at having to leave tonight’s match with an injury, having spent the last few minutes standing still on the pitch holding his calf.

There have been many substitutions due to injury this half, as both teams have already had to make two changes…

It appears the former Barcelona full-back has left the pitch due to injury…

So unusual for Jonathan Rosario, who starts the play before getting behind the Miami defense and laying a pass across the Miami goal for a teammate to tap the ball in. However, no one was there! Incredible! Lots of disappointments in this game so far…

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

It looks like Franco Ibarra will come on for Brandon Servania, who lasted just 15 minutes after replacing Victor Vasquez.

Midfielder David Ruiz wins the ball back for Miami before passing him and a delightful cross ends up in the path of Messi at the far post. The former Barca man sends his volley just too high above the goal.

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

This time the Argentinian’s shot is blocked after he passes three Toronto FC defenders in the penalty area. The move started with Messi’s back against the goal before he cut inside and, as usual, let his feet do the talking.

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

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

What bad luck for Deandre Kerr! He gets in behind Miami’s defense and is one-on-one against Drake Callendar, who saves a low hit to his left before Kerr hits the rebound off the post.

What a disappointment for Miami!

There has been a midfield change for Toronto as Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Vasquez is replaced due to injury. He almost gave Miami the lead when Martinez’s shot went well over the crossbar in the opening ten minutes

Messi and Co. will continue to push for the floodgates to open, but Toronto’s defense has managed to stay out of Miami’s high press so far tonight.

The 29-year-old has scored 13 goals and provided 7 assists in 38 games since moving to Canada last year. His contributions are not all positive for a team that sits last in the Eastern Conference with 23 points from 29 games played.

The man normally in the area was unable to hit the target. ‘

Toronto midfielder Victor Vazquez, who used to play with Messi at Barcelona, ​​loses the ball slightly in front of the goal area and Jose Martinez is the first player to react before firing his shot well over the crossbar.

Playing in their signature all-pink kit, the Herons are already applying pressure high up the field in a nerve-wracking start for Toronto.

After an eight-minute first-half collapse, Miami fell from 1-0 to 3-1, and their unlikely play-off push suffered a huge blow in the process… it was Thiago Almeda who stood out in the absence of Messi.

Tonight’s match was scheduled to start at 7:30 ET, but it appears there will only be a few minutes of delay.

The Argentinian, who has scored 11 goals in as many games for Miami in the past two months, received support from his father as he observed the play of Inter Miami’s Under-12 team last month.

The Herons will want to collect as many points as possible from now on. They are seven points behind ninth-place DC United, who are part of the team in the final playoffs of the series 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 when he was playing for the Ligue 1 champions. Read more:

Football fans may recognize a familiar name in the Canadian line-up tonight: Federico Bernadeschi and Lorenzo Insigne. Both came over last year from Juventus and Napoli respectively

The Herons line up the World Cup winner with Josef Martinez in attack, as Messi looks likely to play as a secondary striker of sorts. The Miami captain will have two of his best friends at the club, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who will line up in midfield and at left back.

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

Messi will also appear in Miami for the first time since the international break! The 36-year-old was rested for Argentina’s last game – a 3-0 win against Bolivia – and Miami’s Tata Martino was reluctant to include him against Atlanta after recently returning to the US from his home country.

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