HIGHLIGHTS- Inter Miami CF vs. Toronto FC - September 20, 2023

They actually make five changes, but you're right, a change to a five-back system that's going to free up the two on the wing backs. Jordi Alba on the left will have the task of trying to find spaces to free up the likes of Insigne on one side, Bernadeschi on the opposite end. Referee Drew Fisher blows the whistle. It is into Miami who get us underway in the Miami Pink attacking from left to right. He's coming a little bit narrower and that is allowing Insigne to give the width. Insigne slaloms away from the challenge of Yedlin. Does well to win the ball, can't find the back of the net and then go on the opposite way. It's Insigne who starts to play off and then Busquets. You don't see this too often, but just a little bit too careless on the ball. Cheeky little nutmeg from Deandre Kerr. Gets a second chance, can't find the back. Trying to cheap give away from the fullback. In a sloppy affair so far in the middle of midfield from both sides. Messi trying to open things up. Messi trying to drive forward. Messi on his left foot. First attempt from Lionel Messi and right down the throat of Thomas Romero. Ruiz with a chance to deliver towards the far post. Messi with the run and his right foot just over. Ruiz though in midfield. He starts his playoff with that challenge to win the ball back there for his team and then once it gets wide, you know you have runners in the box. Messi drifts to the far post, gets it on his right foot. He's trying to pick out that back post with the strike, but he can't get over it. Thomas Romero's committed there. You hear the fans chanting because they're liking what they're seeing so far. They're getting Messi more and more involved, but that challenge from young David Ruiz is everything in midfielding. Who has increased his form over the last couple of months is Robert Taylor. He comes on, but the warm ovation for Lionel Messi. Taylor banks for Allen. Allen with the cross and well the ball's gone far clear. And he couldn't have hit this one any better. Quality to finish off plays and he gets his goal because of a late run. He's on the left side of your screen. Not even in the frame of what's happening with this play, but he starts that late run, attacks his face. Good ball in the box by Noah Allen. First half sub that forces a save out of Thomas Romero, but right into a dangerous area, right into the pathway of a player who's confident in the 18. Facundo Fauries just puts his laces through it. Halftime's going to come, but that was going to come with a Miami up a goal. Especially in certain moments, they were very pleased with what they saw Toronto do, specifically being very organized defensively. They were brave in moments, creating a lot of good chances. Ibarra, Lewandowski again, left footed ball and just too far ahead. We talked about the sloppiness at halftime. It's continued here for Inter Miami. Kersouf. Avalanche trying to play that ball too. There's the kind of run you talked about from Fauries. They're listening to you. Into the penalty area. Still Taylor, still going around. TAYLOR! Definitely stunning form since Lionel Messi's arrival. But you gotta take absolutely nothing away from Robert Taylor because this is a, this ends up being a solo finish. The ball gets cycled around. Robert Taylor just confidently shimmies past one, two. And Avalanche, I know you were really impressed with some of his defensive work here. Taylor. Well, replaying his goal all week. Gone for Messi. Campana, lovely touch. Kramaski. He's got options out wide. Campana staying central. Kramaski continuing his run. Kramaski with a chance! Oh, what a future this young man has! U.S. And what does he do when he comes on the pitch here? Just shows a level of quality, but more important, running off the ball. Lateef Blessing also on the pitch with fresh legs, but center of your screen. Kramaski just continues his run, untracked by Lateef Blessing. And when he gets into the final third, good finish to beat Tomas Romero. But this play is just all about his willingness to attack space, to use his energy, to use his youthfulness. And that back line is all over the place now for Toronto in terms of that offside line. Taylor. Campana making the run. Campana takes it in stride. Takes a deflection just wide. Would have been another super team goal. That's a strong challenge on Franklin, who's stead down. Blessing. Making the overlapping run. Insigne of the woodwork. Super technique from the Italian. Campana. Forias. A little chip in behind. Another opportunity! Stops scoring. Top class goals. All these class goals. It's him who starts to play off from a wide position. But Inter-Miami, what they do so well is they keep this play alive. A little bit of press here. Sloppy from Toronto FC. But then the creativity of Laguna Forias to pick up the run of Robert Taylor. And once he gets it behind the back line, you tip a hat to him. Because this is just an absolute class finish. Puts his laces through it. So much power. So much precision. And accuracy. Nothing Tomas Romero can do about it. As he just watches it drift past him. Fighting the back of the net for the second time tonight. Robert Taylor extends Inter-Miami lead 4-0. But a lot of that quality just came from them being energetic. Playing forward a little bit more. Being daring to run off the ball. And then some real quality finishes from Robert Taylor. 4-0 it ends at Dry Pink Stadium. Inter-Miami 3-goal.