Messi and Suárez rested, but Inter Miami inches closer to breaking MLS record

With the MLS regular season almost wrapped up, Inter Miami once again showed why they've become one of the most dominant clubs this season. Even resting their star players, Tata Martino's team didn't just defeat Toronto FC 1-0 but reached an even more historic milestone: 71 points, leaving the club just three points shy of an all-time league record.

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Strategic Dominance, Even Without Stars

Inter Miami had long since wrapped up the 2024 Supporters' Shield-winner of first in the regular season-so that fact cooled the team, resting key players like Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez in the match. Both only entered in the second half, but the win was methodical and in control.

Even with a few key players on the bench, Inter Miami's defense was as solid as a rock. Óscar Ustari was tall in goal on his debut for the club, making seven critical saves and commanded confidence throughout the match. The team went for a compact defensive look in the backline, which provided the skeleton that was needed to ward off Toronto FC, still holding onto playoff hopes.

Head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino praised his backline, including Ustari: "I think the three defenders and Óscar [Ustari] in goal provided a lot of calm and were very solid. In particular, I believe Noah [Allen] was the best player on the field… Óscar in goal offered a lot of calm and solidity."

Late Brilliance of Campana

It was in stoppage time that the defining moment of the match really came. Until the third minute of added time, it had seemed as though the game was to be headed for a goalless draw; then, Luis Suárez made a perfect cross from the left, and Leonardo Campana-one of the stand-out forwards this season-seized his moment: thigh-high in control, with a left-foot volley into the net.

This means that it was Campana's eighth goal this regular season, and the third in the last five games, a fact proving himself in crucial moments and giving more options to coach Martino ahead of the playoffs.

Chasing the Record

The victory against Toronto FC now puts Inter Miami at the doorsteps of breaking one of the most crucial records in the MLS: highest point total in a single season. The record is currently held by the New England Revolution, with 73 points attained during the 2021 season. Inter Miami currently stands at 71 points and needs just one more win to surpass that mark and enshrine themselves as the best regular-season performance in MLS history.

That would be their final game against the New England Revolution, a team that holds that record now. With them being at home, Inter Miami has one great advantage as they forge ahead to compete in this record-setting win that may forever engrave the club's name in American soccer history.

Playoff Focus

Owing to their brilliant campaign, Inter Miami has already won the right to play their crucial playoff matches at home with the regular season inching toward its close. This can be a big factor in knockout competitions where, in closely contested games, home-field advantage means much.

The team goes into the playoffs with a wave of confidence, not just because of the string of consecutive victories but also the consistent manner in which they have performed. Tata Martino's squad rotation system proves that the club does not depend on their superstars from international football. Messi and Suárez are indeed in a league of their own, but Inter Miami has built a cohesive unit where every player plays an important role in the functioning of the unit.

Toronto FC: Stuck in Survival Mode

While Inter Miami are chasing records, the reality for Toronto FC is very different. With 37 points, the Canadian outfit still mathematically have a chance of making the playoffs, but an improbable one; they would need to win their final game and hope for a combination of other results in their favor. They played a competitive match against Inter Miami, but again lacked finishing touches-a defining moment that went the visitors' way.

Despite all, Toronto showed grit, particularly in holding Inter Miami scoreless for almost the whole 90 minutes of play. Defeat is tough on their playoff hopes. All that is left with Toronto now is to give it all in the last match and hope their fate aligns with the results they need.