Where to watch Toronto FC vs. Inter Miami live stream, TV channel, start time, lineups, prediction for MLS match | Sporting News Canada

Fresh off a roller-coaster victory over defending champions Columbus Crew that secured the Supporters’ Shield and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, Inter Miami will coast to the regular season finish line as they travel to meet Toronto FC in MLS action.

Lionel Messi scored twice as the Herons topped the Crew 3-2 in a wild and wacky match that saw their opponents out-play Inter Miami for long stretches but commit gut-wrenching errors in an eventual defeat. The win saw Inter Miami secure their spot at not just the top of the Eastern Conference but indeed the whole of the MLS table, now ready to ride out the final two games of the regular season with ease.

Thus, it’s possible that Messi and the rest of Inter Miami’s most valuable players will get significant rest over these last two games, not needing to risk their fitness for the playoffs to log otherwise meaningless minutes.

This match, however, is anything but meaningless for Toronto FC who are in the thick of the playoff hunt. As the only team not scheduled for a match on Decision Day, this is the final chance for the club to pick up points, currently sitting ninth, the final playoff position, level on points with both the Philadelphia Union and D.C. United.

Given their opponents both have two games left, it seems vital for the hosts to snatch three points here before watching nervously from the couch on the final day of the season.

Toronto FC vs. Inter Miami live stream, TV channel

This match between Toronto FC and Inter Miami will be streamed LIVE exclusively on MLS Season Pass from Apple TV.

With the regular season winding down and playoffs getting closer, MLS Season Pass is more affordable than ever for new fans to access the stretch run of the campaign. All remaining regular season games plus EVERY match of the MLS Cup playoffs can all be accessed for just $9.99, while current Apple TV subscribers can sign up FREE the rest of the way.

What time is Toronto FC vs. Inter Miami kickoff?

This MLS regular season match kicks off from BMO Stadium on Saturday, October 5 at 4 p.m. local time in Toronto.

Here’s how that time translates across the time zones in North America:

MORE: Find out which games are streaming free on MLS Season pass from Apple TV each week

Toronto FC vs. Inter Miami lineups & team news

Talisman forward Federico Bernardeschi couldn’t have picked a worse time to see himself sent off, given a second yellowcard in the 75th minute of their midweek defeat to the New York Red Bulls which will leave him suspended for this all-important regular season finale. In the absence of the club’s season-long minutes leader, Derrick Etienne or Deandre Kerr could be deployed, or Jonathan Osorio could be moved up in to the attack.

Toronto FC are also missing fellow Italian star Lorenzo Insigne due to a hamstring injury which has hampered him all season, and the same can be said for center-back Nicksoen Gomis who leaves a hole in the back line.

Toronto FC projected starting lineup (3-4-3): S. Johnson (GK) — O’Neill, Long, Petretta — Laryea, Longstaff, Flores, Longstaff — Kerr, Etienne, Osorio.

With the Supporters’ Shield wrapped up and absolutely nothing tangible to play for in their final two regular season matches, it would be shocking and brainless to see Tata Martino needlessly risk Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez in a road match north of the border. Expect both of them to begin on the bench and be used only sparingly at the end as a late substitute, and the same could be true for Jordi Alba as well.

Beyond that, Inter Miami continue to have a number of absences to work around. Marcelo Weigandt and Federico Redondo are both suspended for yellow card accumulation, although Tomas Aviles returns from a similar absence last time out.

Nicolas Freire and Facundo Farias are out for the year with ACL tears. Matias Rojas could start as he gets back to full fitness from an ankle injury, having come off the bench in each of the last two games, and Hector Martinez is also close to seeing the field again, although this game could be a bit too soon for his return.

Inter Miami projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Callender (GK) — Fray, Aviles, Busquets, Negri — D. Ruiz, Bright, Cremaschi — Rojas, Campana, Taylor.

Toronto FC vs. Inter Miami prediction, betting odds & lines

• Score prediction: Toronto FC 2-3 Inter Miami

Inter Miami always seem to somehow find a way to avoid adverse results, but it’s hard to watch them play and feel confident about their performances moving forward. With aging stars like Lionel Messi expected to get rest in this match, backing them to win feels like a fools’ errand.

Still, it also seems like their opponents conjure one or two backbreaking errors every time, even the talented ones like the Columbus Crew last time out. Given Toronto FC are without their star Italian duo and are in the midst of a terrible run of form, it’s hard to see them picking up a result to salvage any hope of reaching the playoffs.