Toronto FC (5W-7L-9T, 24 points) earned a 2-1 victory against the reigning MLS Cup champions Inter Miami CF (11W-4L-6T, 39 points) in the Reds’ first visit to Nu Stadium in Florida, courtesy of goals from Josh Sargent and Derrick Etienne Jr. on Saturday evening.
Toronto FC Head Coach Robin Fraser made four changes from his side that started in a 3-3 tie against Charlotte FC last Wednesday at BMO Field with Kobe Franklin, Zane Monlouis, Derrick Etienne Jr., and Djordje Mihailovic coming in for Jackson Gilman, Walker Zimmerman, Niklas Dorsch and Theo Corbeanu.
The Reds pushed forward in the opening stages, with Derrick Etienne Jr. playing a ball across the box toward Richie Laryea in the 11th minute, with Laryea finding the back of the net, though the Toronto defender was called offside. Eight minutes later, Inter Miami’s Luis Suárez created an opportunity with a shot from just inside the top of the box, but his effort missed wide of the right post.
After a scoreless first half, TFC broke the deadlock in the 59th minute when Etienne Jr. picked up the ball from a Miami deflection and found Daniel Sallói. The winger played a pass across the top of the box to Josh Sargent and after taking a touch, Sargent fired a low shot into the bottom-left corner to put Toronto FC ahead.
With the assist Etienne Jr. recorded his 50th career MLS goal contribution, reaching the milestone with 23 goals and 27 assists.
Three minutes later, Etienne Jr. doubled the lead after Djordje Mihailovic sent in a cross that was kicked away by Miami goalkeeper, Dayne St. Clair. Etienne Jr. collected the loose ball and found the back of the net to give the Reds a 2-0 advantage.
The hosts cut the deficit in the 82nd minute after Miami captain Lionel Messi ran onto a through ball from Rodrigo De Paul and found the back of the net to bring the Herons within one.
After weathering a late push from Miami, Toronto FC held on to secure the three points, earning its first-ever road victory in club history.
Toronto FC return home to host New York City FC in the club’s annual Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) matchup on Saturday, August 29. Kick-off from BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast globally in English and Spanish on Apple TV.
LINEUPS
INTER MIAMI CF – Dayne St. Clair; Ian Fray, Gonzalo Luján (Facundo Mura 26’), Maximiliano Falcón, Sergio Reguilón (Noah Allen 58’); Rodrigo De Paul, Carlos Casimiro (David Ayala 73’), Telasco Segovia (Daniel Pinter 73’); Lionel Messi (C), Germán Berterame, Luis Suárez (Lovend's Delinois 73’)
Substitutes Not Used: Rocco Ríos Novo, Fricio Caicedo, Alex Shaw, Preston Plambeck
TORONTO FC – Luka Gavran; Kobe Franklin, Benjamín Kuscevic, Zane Monlouis, Richie Laryea (C); Markus Cimermancic, Alonso Coello, Derrick Etienne Jr. (Jackson Gilman 86’), Djordje Mihailovic (Nicksoen Gomis 87’), Dániel Sallói (Matheus Pereira 65’); Josh Sargent (Theo Corbeanu 77’)
Substitutes Not Used: William Yarbrough, Raheem Edwards, Malik Henry, Emilio Aristizáball, Jules-Anthony Vilsaint
MEDIA NOTES
- Derrick Etienne Jr. recorded his fifth and sixth goal contributions (three goals, three assists) of the 2026 MLS season.
- With the assist on Josh Sargent's 59th minute goal and his 62nd minute goal, Etienne Jr. recorded his 50th and 51st career Major League Soccer goal contributions, reaching the milestone with 24 goals and 27 assists.
- With the win, Toronto FC earned its first-ever road victory against Inter Miami CF and secured its first points at NU Stadium in Miami, Florida.
