Lionel Messi scores again but Inter Miami’s slump deepens with defeat by Toronto FC

Lionel Messi scored for the second consecutive match, but could not prevent Inter Miami from suffering a fourth defeat in five games as Toronto FC won 2-1 in Major League Soccer on Sunday.

The Argentina forward reduced the deficit with eight minutes of normal time remaining, finishing first time after receiving a through ball from compatriot Rodrigo De Paul. His goal gave Inter Miami hope of rescuing a point, but the visitors were unable to find an equaliser during a late spell of pressure.

Toronto had taken control of the match in the second half by scoring twice in the space of three minutes. Josh Sargent opened the scoring before Derrick Etienne Jr added a second, leaving Inter Miami facing another difficult result during a sharp decline in form.

Messi’s finish moved him to 14 goals for the season and continued his run of scoring in successive matches. He had also found the net against Philadelphia Union in Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw in the previous round.

However, the 38-year-old’s latest contribution was not enough to prevent his side from losing for the fourth time in their past five games. The result extends a difficult period for the reigning MLS champions, who have struggled to produce consistent results in recent weeks.

Inter Miami had already been eliminated from the Leagues Cup in the opening round after suffering two defeats. They then lost 4-1 to Nashville SC before drawing with Philadelphia Union in midweek.

The team have now gone almost a month without a victory in MLS, although they remain second in the Eastern Conference. Their position still leaves them in contention for a top-four finish, but they must recover quickly if they are to secure home advantage in the opening round of the play-offs.

Toronto FC’s victory was only their fifth in 21 league matches this season. They have nevertheless avoided defeat in their past four games, a sequence that has revived their hopes of challenging for a place in the play-offs.

For much of the match, Inter Miami were unable to turn possession and attacking pressure into clear opportunities. Toronto’s two-goal burst after the interval gave the home side a platform to protect, while Messi’s late strike arrived too close to full-time to change the outcome.

The defeat means Miami’s recent run continues to overshadow Messi’s individual scoring form. Despite his goals in consecutive games, the club must now arrest their slide if they are to maintain their position near the top of the Eastern Conference and meet their ambitions as defending MLS champions.