This article is also available in French.
Inter Miami vs Toronto FC Preview
Inter Miami welcomes Toronto FC to Chase Stadium on August 8 at 7:30 pm. Both sides secured qualification through the Leagues Cup group stage and face off in tournament soccer. A loss at this stage will be costly, sending the defeated team home.
The defending champions Miami qualified for the round of 32 after finishing second in East 3. Toronto topped East 6 with impressive victories over Pachuca and the New York Red Bulls. Can Toronto stop the high-flying Herons or will Inter Miami continue their path to defending the Leagues Cup?
Inter Miami vs Toronto FC Head-To-Head and Key Stats
Inter Miami and Toronto FC have met in competitive action on nine occasions. Miami holds the bragging rights over their opponents with seven wins, two losses, and no draws. They last clashed just a few weeks ago in the MLS on July 17 at Chase Stadium.
The Herons were in control on their way to a 3-1 victory in Fort Lauderdale. A series of fouls from either side put a damp squib on much of the first half. Diego Gomez finally injected some life into the game when he fired home from outside the box in the 43rd minute.
Federico Redondo doubled Miami’s lead in the 53rd minute and doubled his tally six minutes later to put the result beyond doubt. Derrick Etienne Jr. scored a consolation goal in the 79th minute and Miami ran out deserved 3-1 winners. That victory helped them climb above FC Cincinnati, where they have remained since.
Miami last played on August 3 against Tigres UNAL in their final group game of East 3. Both teams had already confirmed their place in the round of 32, but a victory meant a more favourable draw. Despite the Herons boasting the lion’s share of possession and chances, Tigres snatched the win.
A poor clearance from Tomas Aviles handed the ball to Juan Brunetta in the 18th minute. The attacking midfielder scored a spectacular lofted volley from outside the box to put Miami a goal down. Neither side carved out clear-cut chances for the rest of the half and Miami entered the break down 1-0.
Tata Martino’s side came out with more of an attacking edge in the second half. Their work in putting balls into the box paid off in the 72nd minute. Marcelo Weigandt’s cross reached Leonardo Campana in the box, who was pulled down cynically by Guido Pizarro. Campana stepped up for the penalty and converted to draw level.
However, Juan Vigon cancelled that out in the 84th minute when Serhiy Kryvtsov’s clearance fell at his feet. He blasted the ball into the net from short range and snatched the victory for Tigres. Miami finished with 56% possession and five shots on target but could not turn dominance into victory.
Toronto played on August 4 in their final Leagues Cup group game in East 6 against CF Pachuca. They confirmed their place in the round of 32 following their opening victory against the New York Red Bulls on penalties. Toronto dominated the game and earned a deserved victory to top their group.
The Reds peppered Pachuca’s goal throughout the first half, consistently forcing blocks or saves. They finally found a way through before halftime when Derrick Etienne Jr. smartly chipped Carlos Moreno following Lorenzo Insigne’s lofted through ball.
It was much of the same for the second half, with Toronto dominating proceedings. However, they were caught on the break in the 59th minute. The goalkeeper palmed Salomon Rondon’s shot into the path of Oussama Idrissi, who finished into an open net to level the game.
Toronto battled back while Pachuca tried to keep things compact in defence. Their hard work paid off when Kobe Franklin scored the winner in the 78th minute with another smart finish from Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty’s cross. Toronto finished with 55% possession and 17 shots to eight.
Inter Miami vs Toronto FC Predictions
Correct score prediction: Inter Miami 2-1 Toronto FC
Toronto has hit their stride in recent weeks. After a terrible run of form that saw them go 10 games without a win in all competitions, they have now won four of their last five. However, their only loss in that run came against Miami. The Herons have already proven they can beat Toronto and the defending champions can take that into Thursday. Our soccer prediction is for a Miami win.
Inter Miami has been one of the best teams in the MLS this season. The Herons are currently first in the Eastern Conference on 53 points, five clear of Cincinnati in second and are the top scorers across the entire league with 56 goals. Miami has a history in the Leagues Cup, having won the competition last year.
Tata Martino boasts one of the most talent-laden squads in MLS history. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba have enough silverware between them to fill an entire museum, including nine Champions League winner’s medals.
The former Barcelona quartet has been integral to Miami’s form this season. Although Messi will miss the game through injury, the remaining trio are arguably the three next-best players in the league. There is too much talent in this Miami squad.
Away from their European superstars, the rest of the Miami roster has been running like clockwork. Julian Gressel is playing the best soccer of his career. The utility player has found a home on the right of a front three and now has 12 assists this season.
Players like Campana, Matias Rojas, and Robert Taylor stepped up during Messi and Suarez’s absences during the Copa America. They carried Inter Miami’s attack when they were missing and have continued to perform strongly after. That is a testament to how talented this squad is, showing off their incredible depth.
Toronto has an attacking threat that Miami will have to keep quiet. Italian duo Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi have been the shining lights of the Reds’ attack this season. Insigne has 10 goals and assists in the MLS and Bernardeschi has 13. They can cause plenty of problems for a Miami defence that has conceded more than any other team in the playoff positions in the East.
Inter Miami vs Toronto FC Betting Tips
Anyone looking to place a bet on the Leagues Cup winner will know Inter Miami is the moneyline favourite. They stand a good chance to progress in this round as they have already beaten Toronto this season and have comfortably been the best team in the MLS. Their loss to UANL was perhaps undeserved and with qualification secured, their foot may have been off the gas. We are backing them to start the knockout rounds strongly. Bet on Inter Miami to win, worth -147.
We are backing both teams to score, worth -192 at our bookmaker. Despite boasting the strongest attacking record in the MLS, Miami’s defensive record is pretty standard. This is owed to Tata Martino’s brand of high-octane, attacking soccer. Marauding fullbacks are a constant in the attacking phases of the game for Miami with Jordi Alba chipping in with a handful of goals and assists in 2024. However, this leaves them susceptible to counterattacks. Miami has only kept one clean sheet in their last 11 games. Toronto has scored in seven of their last nine.
Live betting is also an option for this game. Knockout soccer is extremely tense, and one mistake can end your campaign in an instant. For that reason, these teams are likely to keep it tight for large periods of the game. An in-play wager on a draw could be a strong play if both teams look nervous in attack.
Luis Suarez will lead the line for Inter Miami. The Uruguayan has been in top form since his debut in February, netting 12 MLS goals this campaign. Suarez is a frontrunner to score when looking at the soccer betting markets. Bet on the former Barca man to score anytime, worth +100.
Inter Miami Team News
Lionel Messi is still carrying an ankle injury from the Copa America final. He has not trained and will not appear in this game. Facundo Farias and Nicolas Freire will miss the rest of the season with ACL injuries. Serhiy Kryvtsov’s ankle injury was not as bad as first feared. He came off the bench against Tigres for nine minutes and is available for this game.
- Predicted lineup: Callender, Weigandt, Aviles, Kryvtsov, Alba, Bright, Busquets, Campana, Gressel, Suarez, Taylor.
Toronto FC Team News
Brandon Servania is nursing a leg injury and will not return until late August. Tyrese Spicer’s back injury is on the mend, but his recovery won’t finish until next week. Alonso Coello is nearing a return following his hamstring injury and could be available for selection for this game.
- Predicted lineup: Johnson, Petretta, Long, Gomis, Osorio, Thompson, Longstaff, Laryea, Bernardeschi, Insigne, Etienne Jr.
