Inter Miami looks to bounce back against Toronto FC after Philadelphia Union draw

After two straight stumbles, Inter Miami needs a win to avoid losing ground at the top of MLS. The match is set for Nu Stadium this Saturday against a Toronto FC side arriving with the opposite urgency: escaping the bottom of the table before the season gets away from them.

The stat causing the most concern in Fort Lauderdale is the recent run of form. Lionel Messi's team had lost two games in a row and stopped the bleeding with a 2-2 draw against Philadelphia Union. It's not the best return for a team fighting for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, but it's no cause for alarm either: with 11 wins, 6 draws and 3 losses, Inter Miami has 39 points and remains solidly in second place in the standings.

Toronto FC is coming from the opposite end of the spectrum. The Canadians are fresh off a wild 3-3 draw against Charlotte FC that left mixed feelings: they picked up a point, but once again showed the defensive cracks that have kept them far from playoff position. With 4 wins, 9 draws and 7 losses, the team has just 21 points and sits 11th, in a spot that demands an immediate response if they want to get back into the playoff race.

What's at stake

For Inter Miami, snapping the negative streak is the priority. Losing ground in these weeks could prove costly in an Eastern Conference where every point matters when it comes time to sort out playoff positioning. The team needs to show again the solidity that put it among the league's best, something it failed to sustain for a full ninety minutes in its last two matches.

Toronto, on the other hand, is playing with its back against the wall. Grabbing all three points is the only way to start closing the gap to a playoff spot, and a positive result in Florida would give them a morale boost that has been missing so far. The draw against Charlotte made clear that the team has scoring punch, but also that it struggles to close out games.

The match is set for this Saturday, the 22nd, at Nu Stadium, with kickoff at 8:30 p.m. for Argentina and Uruguay, 7:30 p.m. for Chile, and 6:30 p.m. for Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. The broadcast will be available through Apple TV.