Jordi Alba set a new single-match assist record as Inter Miami CF won 4-3 against Toronto FC in the Leagues Cup Round of 32 on Thursday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
With four assists in the encounter, the Inter Miami left-back set a new benchmark in the competition. More importantly, it inched the Florida club one step closer in its title defense in a seven-goal affair.
“I said it, I think two games back, a number 10 who played left back,” said Inter Miami CF head coach Gerardo Martino to describe Alba. “So, we have a great assist man from that side.”
“I think there were also high points, both Matías [Rojas] and Diego [Gómez], on both sides, played a great game. I think Fede Redondo played a great game,” added Martino. “It seems that we had many high points and Jordi's, precisely, is one of them.”
Matías Rojas opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with a shot from the right side of the penalty area. Alba delivered the cross from the left flank to find the Paraguayan at the far post.
Diego Gómez shot from inside the penalty arc in the 11th minute to extend the lead as Alba again delivered a perfect-weighted ball.
Lorenzo Insigne scored from the penalty marker in the 15th minute to place the Canadians on the board following a foul inside the box on Derrick Etienne Jr.
Federico Bernardeschi was subbed off in the 18th minute as Toronto made its first change of the night, bringing on Prince Owusu.
“He wasn't right coming into the game,” said Toronto FC head coach John Herdman. “He had an ankle problem in the warm up and we asked him to push and see if he could get through, but it was tough to see him come out because, for us, we need our quality as well.”
Luis Suárez lobbed a ball over Sean Johnson in the 20th minute to score a third for the home side. The Uruguayan connected on a through ball from his longtime teammate as the reigning champs were rolling offensively.
Héctor Martínez was sent off in the 28th minute, leaving Inter Miami to play the rest of the encounter with ten players. A foul on the edge of the box gave Toronto a free kick, as Drake Callender put a hand to block the attempt from Insigne.
Insigne increased his tally with another conversion from the penalty spot in the 41st minute as the Reds continued with life in the game.
Rojas hit a left-footed laser from outside the box in the 59th minute to add a fourth for Inter Miami CF. Alba served as the intermediary on a pass from Federico Redondo, setting the new tournament record in the process in what would be the match-winning goal.
Owusu struck a header in the box in the 79th minute, bouncing off the arm of Noah Allen for an own goal that cut the scoreline to the minimal difference.
Ultimately, seven would be where the goal count would end as Inter Miami continues in the tournament, while Toronto bows out.
“I think if Bernardeschi is able to manage that game, without injury, we might have been in a different situation in the second half,” added Herdman. “Particularly with the man advantage, but not to be.
“We've had a good crack at it down here. I think Miami will be somewhere in and around those finals, so it's a good lesson for us, because we know if we're pushing for the MLS championship and the playoffs, etc, these are the teams you got to learn to beat at their place,” Herdman concluded.
Inter Miami CF awaits the winner of Columbus Crew and Sporting Kansas City in the Round of 16 on Monday.
