FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup title defense continues Thursday night, still without Lionel Messi.
Inter Miami hosts Toronto FC at Chase Stadium in the Leagues Cup Round of 32 on Thursday, and will be broadcast by Apple TV. Messi’s right ankle ligament injury continues to keep him sidelined.
Messi will miss his fifth straight match since getting hurt in the Copa America final on July 14, but it appears his recovery is on track.
“[Leo is] getting better, getting better every day,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said Wednesday. “He’s still in the gym, but looks better and better. It’s within the deadlines we’ve been thinking about.”
Inter Miami has won seven of nine matches without Messi since he joined Argentina for Copa America in early June. The club leads all MLS teams with 53 points in the standings.
Follow along here for Leagues Cup highlights from Thursday’s Inter Miami-Toronto match:
Lorenzo Insigne goal: Inter Miami 3, Toronto 2
Inter Miami’s foul trouble has come back to haunt them again in this match. Jordi Alba was penalized for a foul in the penalty area and Toronto’s Lorenzo Insigne has scored his second penalty kick in the match in the 41st minute.
Lorenzo Insigne misses free kick goal: Inter Miami 3, Toronto 1
If this game wasn’t eventful enough: Inter Miami defender Héctor David Martínez was shown a red card for a foul on Toronto’s Prince Owusu. Inter Miami goalie Drake Callender blocked a free kick by Toronto’s Lorenzo Insigne to keep the score 3-1.
The sequence resulted in a free kick, and not a penalty kick because the foul by Martinez happened just outside the penalty area. Still, Inter Miami will finish this match down to 10 men, instead of 11.
Luis Suarez goal: Inter Miami 3, Toronto 1
Three goals before 20 minutes? Not a bad start at all by Inter Miami. This time, Luis Suarez dribbled around a few defenders after Jordi Alba delivered his third assist in the match in the 20th minute.
Lorenzo Insigne goal: Inter Miami 2, Toronto 1
Toronto is on the board after Lorenzo Insigne converted a penalty kick in the 15th minute of this action-packed contest against Inter Miami.
The penalty resulted after Inter Miami defender Chelo Weigandt fouled Toronto’s Derrick Etienne Jr.
Diego Gomez goal: Inter Miami 2, Toronto FC 0
Diego Gomez has scored in the 11th minute, and Inter Miami has stormed to a 2-0 lead against Toronto in their Leagues Cup matchup.
Jordi Alba, the lefty, delivered an assist, his second of the game, with his right foot on the play.
Matias Rojas goal: Inter Miami 1, Toronto 0
How about that for a fast start? Inter MIami’s Matias Rojas scored in the third minute to give his side an early 1-0 lead.
How to watch: Inter Miami vs. Toronto FC live stream
The Inter Miami match against Toronto FC will be available via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Is Messi playing tonight?
No, Messi remains out of action due to his right ankle ligament injury sustained during the Copa America final on July 14.
Which team would Inter Miami face in Round of 16?
The winner of the Inter Miami-Toronto match will face the winner of Friday’s match between the Columbus Crew and Sporting Kansas City.
What happened the last time Inter Miami played Toronto?
Thursday’s match will be a rematch between both teams: Inter Miami beat Toronto 3-1 without Messi on July 17.
Leagues Cup games on Thursday, August 8
∎Inter Miami CF vs Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎Tigres vs Club Pachuca, 9 p.m. ET
∎Seattle Sounders vs LA Galaxy, 10:30 p.m. ET
∎San Jose Earthquakes vs. Club Necaxa, 11 p.m. ET
Leagues Cup games on Friday, August 9
∎FC Cincinnati vs Santos Laguna, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎Columbus Crew vs Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎Orlando City SC vs Cruz Azul, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎Philadelphia Union vs CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎New England Revolution vs New York City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎D.C. United vs. Mazatlán, 7:30 p.m. ET
∎Toluca vs Houston Dynamo, 8:30 p.m. ET
∎St. Louis City vs Portland Timbers, 8:30 p.m. ET
∎FC Juarez vs Colorado Rapids, 9:30 p.m. ET
∎Club America vs Atlas, 10 p.m. ET
Leagues Cup results on Wednesday
∎LAFC 2, Austin FC 0
∎Pumas UNAM 2, Vancouver Whitecaps 0
Leagues Cup Dates to Remember
∎Aug. 12-13: Round of 16
∎Aug. 16-17: Quarterfinals
∎Aug. 21: Semifinals