A brace from Federico Redondo lifted Inter Miami to a 3-1 triumph over Toronto FC in Major League Soccer action at Chase Stadium.
It was a poor first half from the hosts who didn’t register a single shot up until the end of the half. It was clear to see that Miami were feeling the negative effects of playing without not only Lionel Messi but Sergio Busquets, too as the former is sidelined indefinitely while the latter missed out through suspension.
However, that all changed in the 42nd minute when the Herons went in front on just their second shot of the night. Federico Redondo’s pin-point accurate over-the-top through ball saw Diego Gomez take the pass in stride before he smashed it across the face of goal to put Miami in front.
Moments later, Toronto threatened to level things up through Italian icon Federico Bernardeschi. Toronto’s No. 10 found himself with plenty of space outside of Miami’s penalty area, and Bernardeschi let loose with a strike that was destined for the far corner before Drake Callender got a glove to it as it bounced off the post and out for a corner kick.
Miami would go on to double their lead seven minutes into the second half, with Redondo scoring his first goal as a Heron. The 21-year-old set up the opening goal and got on the end of the second goal of the night with a bullet header at the back post with Julian Gressel claiming the assist.
Redondo wasn’t finished scoring at that point. In the 59th minute, Gressel set Gomez through down the left-hand side as the Paraguay international effortlessly laid the ball off for Redondo to tap-in to complete his brace. The Herons were in cruise control with a commanding 3-0 lead at home.
Toronto managed to pull one back with roughly 10 minutes to go in normal time through Derrick Etienne Jr. Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty played the ex-Atlanta United winger through on goal and Etienne Jr. made no mistake from close range. Callender must’ve been disappointed to not keep the clean sheet, but Miami would still go on to hold for all three points.
The win saw Miami return to the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings as FC Cincinnati fell 1-0 to Chicago Fire. Even though Cincinnati thrashed Miami 6-1 a couple weeks ago, the Herons have in turn leapfrogged the Orange and Blue for with 50 points compared to 48.
GK: Drake Callender – 8/10 – Came up with two huge stops to deny Bernardeschi both times in his 100th appearance in a Miami shirt.
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