Match Report: Toronto FC 2 - 4 Inter Miami | OneFootball

The atmosphere at BMO Field was electric as a rcrowd of 45,000 packed the stands to witness the legendary Lionel Messi in the flesh. However, the golden sunshine and the star-studded spectacle couldn’t mask a performance from Toronto FC that was, quite frankly, dismal. On a pitch that looked surprisingly haggard for early May, TFC looked like a side completely devoid of ideas, further exhausting the dwindling patience of a fan base already reeling from a lackluster nine-match homestand. Coming off a humiliating mid-week exit in the Canadian Championship at the hands of Atletico Ottawa, this was supposed to be a statement game according to Robin Fraser. The players made a statement - perhaps with the wrong kind of message.

Red-y for Primetime

Emilio Aristizabal's Goal Efficiency - If there is one reason to keep tuning in, it’s the emergence of Emilio Aristizabal. While the team struggles to create, Aristizabal is proving to be an incredibly savvy impact signing. With 3 goals in just 328 minutes of action, he is currently operating at a clinical rate of 0.82 goals per 90 minutes. To put that into perspective, high-priced singing Josh Sargent has managed just 2 goals in 496 minutes this season, a rate of 0.36 g/90. Aristizabal is making the most of the scraps he’s being fed, and he deserves more consistent minutes.

Raheem Edwards' Work Rate - While some players looked like they were merely jogging through a friendly, Raheem Edwards played like a man possessed. His work rate remains unmatched in this squad - he was one of the few players on the pitch consistently putting in 100% effort from the opening whistle to the final seconds. Whether he was tracking back to break up a counter or trying to force an opening down the flank, Edwards showed the kind of mentality that seems to be a feature of a winning squad when Edwards was a part of the treble-winning TFC team in 2017. In essence, the rest of the roster desperately needs to adopt his attitude.

Malik Henry and his Pace- Henry is rapidly reaching "undroppable" status. His raw pace is a genuine problem for MLS defenders, and today was no different. Even when the service from the midfield was stagnant, Henry’s ability to stretch the backline and force Inter Miami into uncomfortable recovery runs provided the only real moments of verticality for Toronto. He is currently TFC's most dangerous outlet, and the attack looks significantly more toothless whenever he isn't involved in the sequence.

Seeing Red

The Midfield is Muddled - The tactical decision to pair Markus Cimermancic and Alonso Coello in the heart of the pitch continues to baffle. The combination simply does not work; the duo lacked the vision and urgency required to progress the ball through the lines. Instead of breaking the press, we saw a repetitive cycle of sideways passes and back-passes that allowed Inter Miami to stay organized and comfortable. Without a progressive spark in the middle, the strikers are left on an island. Toronto is desperately lacking a player that can progress the ball into the final third of the pitch.

Defensive Dilletantes - The lack of organization at the back was nothing short of painful to watch. Zane Monlouis, in particular, had a match to forget. One has to wonder if Monlouis understands the basics of marking in the box, as he inexplicably left Lionel Messi wide open on numerous occasions. Giving the greatest player of all time that much real estate is a recipe for disaster, and the communication breakdowns across the backline made the defense look like a group of strangers rather than a professional unit. Team injuries are becoming a sorry excuse as the two centre backs are apparently starting calibre players and did not play particularly well at all.

A Pitch in Peril - the state of the hybrid pitch is becoming a major point of contention. It is failing to stand up to the wear and tear of the season, looking patchy and unstable despite the ideal May weather. Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio describe the pitch as "bumpy", "not great", and "needing some work". This raises a massive red flag for the future - if the surface is already in this poor of a condition in the spring, how on earth are we expected to watch—or play—quality football in the freezing conditions of February and March? The infrastructure is failing the players as much as the tactics are.

Toronto will travel to Charlotte next week on the road and then face Chicago away before the World Cup break. TFC has 14 points from 12 games and is slowly drifting down the table after not getting results at home. If Toronto does not get a result in the next two games, consider the playoff hopes in serious jeopardy. Perhaps Robin Fraser's job is next.