TORONTO (AP) — Lionel Messi played off the bench for Inter Miami on Saturday at Toronto, the next-to-last contest of the regular season for the MLS Supporters Shield winners.
He was on the field for the only goal, Leonardo Campana's score in the third minute of second-half stoppage time that gave Inter Miami a 1-0 victory and moved the Herons one win away from setting the MLS record for points in a season.
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Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) controls the ball during second half an MLS soccer game against Toronto FC in Toronto, Saturday Oct. 5, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi looks on from the sidelines before the start of an MLS soccer match against Toronto FC in Toronto Saturday Oct. 5, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Fans watch Inter Miami's Lionel Messi take his place on the bench before the start of an MLS soccer match against Toronto FC in Toronto Saturday Oct. 5, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Fans looks on as Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, front right, and Luis Suárez make their way to the sidelines before the start of an MLS soccer match against Toronto FC in Toronto Saturday Oct. 5, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Fans looks on as Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, front right, and Luis Suárez make their way to the sidelines before the start of an MLS soccer match against Toronto FC in Toronto Saturday Oct. 5, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Messi among the Inter Miami regulars not in starting lineup for match at Toronto
Messi among the Inter Miami regulars not in starting lineup for match at Toronto
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi dribbles the ball as Columbus Crew's Alexandru Matan defends during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Messi, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, came on as a reserve in the 61st minute, as did fellow would-be starter Sergio Busquets. Also out of the starting 11 for Inter Miami on Saturday were Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and goalkeeper Drake Callender.
Suarez came on in the 71st minute and was credited with the assist on Campana's goal.
Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino indicated Friday that Messi's workload would be a consideration now that the team has wrapped up the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage for the entirety of the MLS Cup playoffs. Inter Miami will play its first playoff match at home on Oct. 25.
Messi is set to report to Argentina's national team in the coming days for World Cup qualifying matches on Oct. 10 and Oct. 15. Those matches, and the travel involved, would figure to put his availability in some doubt for Inter Miami's regular-season finale at home on Oct. 19 against New England.
Oscar Ustari — a teammate of Messi's on the Argentina team that won Olympic gold in 2008 — was in goal against Toronto in Callender's spot, making his debut with the club. Ustari signed with Inter Miami last month.
Inter Miami's win Saturday keeps the club in position to set the MLS single-season points record. If it wins the finale against New England, the Herons would finish with 74 points — one more than the 73 that New England managed in 2021.
Messi has 17 goals in 18 MLS matches this season, including two in the shield-clinching 3-2 win at Columbus on Wednesday.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) controls the ball during second half an MLS soccer game against Toronto FC in Toronto, Saturday Oct. 5, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi looks on from the sidelines before the start of an MLS soccer match against Toronto FC in Toronto Saturday Oct. 5, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Fans watch Inter Miami's Lionel Messi take his place on the bench before the start of an MLS soccer match against Toronto FC in Toronto Saturday Oct. 5, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Fans looks on as Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, front right, and Luis Suárez make their way to the sidelines before the start of an MLS soccer match against Toronto FC in Toronto Saturday Oct. 5, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Fans looks on as Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, front right, and Luis Suárez make their way to the sidelines before the start of an MLS soccer match against Toronto FC in Toronto Saturday Oct. 5, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Messi among the Inter Miami regulars not in starting lineup for match at Toronto
Messi among the Inter Miami regulars not in starting lineup for match at Toronto
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi dribbles the ball as Columbus Crew's Alexandru Matan defends during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
NEW YORK (AP) — Alonso Martínez and defender Thiago Martins scored first-half goals and New York City FC forced a deciding match with a 3-1 victory over FC Cincinnati at Citi Field on Saturday.
Santiago Rodríguez scored on a penalty kick in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time to help No. 6 seed NYCFC even the best-of-three first-round series with third-seed Cincinnati.
Cincinnati, which had won six of the last seven matchups with a plus-9 goal differential entering play, will host the finale on Saturday.
NYCFC grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute when Martínez took a pass from 19-year-old defender Mitja Ilenic and scored his first postseason goal in his second career appearance and start. Ilenic's assist was his first in his first playoff appearance.
Martins sent NYCFC into halftime with a 2-0 lead when he scored unassisted in the 40th minute. It was his first postseason goal in five appearances — all starts.
Cincinnati cut its deficit in half in the 65th minute on a goal by rookie Luca Orellano — his first in the postseason — with assists from Sergio Santos and Luciano Acosta. Santos, who subbed into the match in the 57th minute, notched his third helper in 13 career postseason appearances. Acosta tallied his second this postseason and his fourth in 11 appearances with 10 starts.
Rodríguez's PK came in the seventh minute of stoppage time after he drew a foul on Cincinnati defender Chidozie Awaziem. It was his second goal in nine career playoff appearances — all starts.
Matt Freese saved four shots in his second postseason start for NYCFC.
Roman Celentano finished with one save in his eighth career playoff start for Cincinnati.
Cincinnati last played at Citi Field — home of MLB's New York Mets — in September of 2022 and had never played a playoff match there. The pitch is narrower than most other stadiums.
AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer
New York City FC Mitja Ilenič (35) heads the ball during a soccer match against FC Cincinnati in the MLS Cup playoffs, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur)
The New York City FC team pose for a photo prior to a soccer match against FC Cincinnati in the MLS Cup playoffs Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur)
New York City FC Andres Perea (8) fights for the ball with FC Cincinnati's Yuya Kubo (7) during a soccer match of the MLS Cup playoffs, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur)
New York City FC Keaton Parks (55) fights for the ball with FC Cincinnati's Miles Robinson (12) and Obinna Nwobodo (5) during Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur)
New York City FC's Keaton Parks (55) reacts after they defeated FC Cincinnati in Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur)
New York City FC's Santiago Rodriguez (10) embraces Justin Haak (80) after they defeated FC Cincinnati in Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur)
New York City FC's Thiago Martins (13), third from right, scores a goal against FC Cincinnati during the first half in Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur)
New York City FC's Adrian Martinez (16) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against FC Cincinnati during the first half in Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur)
New York City FC's Kevin o"Toole (22) heads the ball over FC Cincinnati's DeAndre Yedlin (91) during the first half in Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur)
New York City FC's Keaton Parks, right, and FC Cincinnati's Luca Orellano battle for the ball during Game 2 in the first round of the MLS Cup soccer playoffs, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur)