Inter Miami 3-2 Sporting Kansas City: summary, score, goals, highlights, MLS 2023
Inter Miami - Sporting Kansas City: as it happened
It wasn't pretty at times, but the only factor that matters for Inter Miami fans was the scoreline and the three points that help Tata Martino's team in their quest for a playoff place.
Missing several key first team players, Busquets, Alba, Campana and Farinas were all excellent for the Herons as they stretch their unbeaten run to 12 games.
The whistle sounds and Tata Martino's men bag all three points as the playoff dream remains alive.
Corner for SKC ...surely last chance saloon for the visitors.
Callender punches and the ball falls to Espinoza who blazes over.
Alba booked for an off the ball incident.
We'll have six minutes of added time.
SKC changes
Espinoza on for Walter and Shelton on for Ndenbe
Into the final minute of the contest.
Inter Miami minutes away from a massive three points with a depleted team.
MIA sub
Farias off for Ulloa
Thommy has a go from long range as Sporting KC press and look for an equaliser.
Five minutes of normal time for Tata Martino's men to hold out.
Nerves jangling around DRV PNK Stadium as Inter Miami desperate for a win that would keep their playoff hopes alive.
Game on !
Into the final quarter of an hour and the Herons are looking solid as Sporting KC do what they can to try and get back in the game.
Leibold on for Davis
SKC change
MIA change
Sunderland on for Stefanelli
Robinson and Farias work the ball well but the ball clips Fontas and is out for a corner.
Change for SKC
Shalloi off for Agada
An exquisite pass from Busquets finds Campana and the striker, looking for a hattrick fires tamely at the keeper.
Aviles carded for Inter Miami for a clumsy challenge.
The Campana goal for Inter Miami just before the half time whistle really was the turning point in this game as Kansas seem to have wilted and the Herons have been boosted.
Robinson almost extends the Inter Miami lead as he skips past the navy shirts and Melia saves well.
Sporting KC switch off as Inter Miami take a quick free as Busquets finds the Argentine in space and the 21-year-old calmly slots home.
An hour of the contest has passed in Florida and its Inter Miami who still lead.
Walter has a go from outside the box but his left footed effort just fizzes wide.
Inter Miami now break and Farias almost finds a team mate as the keeper gathers.
Nicholas Stefanelli almost makes it three as he fires on goal but the whistle sounded after the Argentine controlled with a hand.
Alba and Campana linking up really well again and the move ends up in a corner for the home side who have started the better in the second half.
Campana almost tucks it home but the flag was up.
Alba with the delivery and the striker playing full of confidence.
Nicely worked from Inter and excellent hold up play from Campana as the ball falls to Robinson but the finish is poor.
Off we go at the start of the second 45'.
The teams return to the pitch at DRV PNK Stadium and Radoja is a halftime sub for Sporting KC as the Serbian replaces Gutierrez.
It's all about Leo tonight at DRV PNK Stadium but the one from Ecuador and not Argentina as the striker from Guayaquil bags a double to see the home side lead at the break.
The whistle sounds and Inter Miami lead at the interval.
Great work from Yedlin with a sweet right footed assist who delivers a dangerous ball and the striker does well to nod home.
Farias shoots from distance and what an impression the former Colon player is having tonight.
Three minutes of the half remain and the score is probably a fair reflection on what we've seen. Sporting started stronger and are the team ending the half on the front foot. Inter Miami did enjoy the better of the half in from the 10-30 minutes with Farias looking dangerous.
Callender spills the ball and allows Gutierrez to shoot which the keeper does manages to save.
Farias is really starting to become a source of danger for Inter Miami as the Argentine looks to cut through the Sporting KC rearguard.
The side from Kansas now struggling to make any headway in the opposition half.
Gutierrez is carded for not standing back as Inter Miami win a free.
We pass the half hour mark in Florida and Inter Miami are lucky to be level with Sporting KC having enjoyed the better of the opening phase to the game.
So, without really doing much, Inter Miami find themselves level in the contest.
Very cool finish from Leo Campana as he slots the ball low and hard to his right.
Campana to take.
The No 9 shoots left footed and slots home.
No real doubt there.
Spot kick for Inter Miami as Campana is clattered by the Sporting keeper.
Inter Miami shading possession.
Melia in the Sporting KC goal has yet to be called upon as we pass the 20 minute mark at DRV PNK Stadium.
Walter takes out Stefanelli and the Sporting KC man is lucky to escape with no card.
Good from Farias as the Argentine breaks through and just fails to find a colleague in pink.
Miami have really struggled to get out of gear tonight.
The crowd seem a little subdued too at the DRV PNK Stadium.
What can the home side offer by way of reply?
To be fair, it's the side in navy who have dominated the bulk of the opening action.
Goooooool.
Sporting KC take the lead as Callender spills a shot and Salloi is there to pounce and open the scoring.
Great chance for Leo Campana to make an impression with the striker from Ecuador not called up and handed goal scoring duties tonight with no Messi or Martinez.
Bright start from Inter Miami with Busquets once again the pendulum that makes the Herons tick.
Terrible from Yedlin as he miscues a clearance and concedes a corner for the visitors.
All set in Florida.
Miami to start the action.
The teams make their way onto the pitch.
Can the Herons maintain the momentum since mid July and last Sunday's big statement win at the home of reigning MLS champions LAFC.
Far from a packed house at the Fort Lauderdale stadium tonight.
A huge game for Inter Miami who simply cannot let to slip up tonight and give points away.
Kick off at the DRV PNK Stadium just minutes away.
Five games take place this weekend
With the international break wreaking havoc with the fixture list, just five MLS regular season games go ahead this weekend with vital points on the line as the end of the season draws ever closer.
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Campana confident that Miami can keep Messi’s standards
Messi has had an immediate impact on his team’s fortunes but there is hope that his influence is not limited to the moments when he is on the field. The fresh impetus and added confidence brought by his arrival should have helped to raise the standards of every player at the club.
Speaking ahead of the clash with Kansas City, striker Leonardo Campana was confident that Miami could continue their fine recent form.
“Obviously we’re going to feel [Messi’s absence], but we have players with a lot of quality,” he told reporters.
“Leo has raised everybody’s level, our level of confidence. But we’re a totally different team now and I’m sure tomorrow we’ll end up with all three points.”
It will be fascinating to see just what kind of Inter Miami we see tonight. Will it be a team looking to maintain their incredible 11 game unbeaten run or will it be shades of the early season Inter Miami before Messi, Busquets and Alba arrived.
The next two hours will reveal all.
Inter Miami team news
Tata Martino has named his team with Busquets and Alba starting. Inter Miami have had to draft in a series of younger players from the second team to compensate for the international absentees.
Sporting XI named
Peter Vermes has named his team ahead of the clash in South Florida and it's Alan Pulido who the Inter Miami defenders will need to watch tonight with the Mexican looking to add to his 12 goals in the 2023 MLS season.
Sporting KC's missing players
Just two key Sporting players are absent tonight with both away representing their respective nations.
Gadi Kinda (M, Israel)
Marinos Tzionis (F, Cyprus)
Inter Miami's absentees
Tata Martino's men are without seven key players who have been called up to play for their national team during the FIFA window.
Edison Azcona (M, Dominican Republic)
Drake Callender (GK, USA)
Benjamin Cremaschi (M, USA)
Diego Gómez (M, Paraguay)
Sergii Kryvtsov (D, Ukraine)
Josef Martínez (F, Venezuela)
Lionel Messi (F, Argentina)
David Ruíz (M, Honduras)
Robert Taylor (M, Finland)
Pink vs Navy
Inter Miami will sport their iconic all pink kit tonight with Sporting KC set to wear their navy shirts for the clash at the DRV PNK Stadium.
Inter Miami will also be encouraged by Sporting KC's poor record on the road with Peter Vermes' men only recording one win on the road during the 2023 season.
An intriguing contest awaits as we get to see a Inter Miami side without seven key players who are all called up for international duty with Lionel Messi being the highest profile absentee for the Herons.
The action in South Florida gets underway at 7:30 pm (ET) with tonight's game just one of five MLS matches that will be played this weekend with the FIFA international break underway.
Hello and welcome to our live MLS coverage as Inter Miami face Sporting KC live from DRV PNK Stadium.