Zambian defender Aime Mabika was an unused substitute as his Toronto FC side tasted a humiliating 4-0 defeat to his former club, Inter Miami.
The Canadian outfit’s dreams to make the MLS playoffs now hang on a thread after suffering an embarrassing defeat in a six-pointer against David Beckham’s side.
Inter Miami’s night got off to a dismaying start as they lost talismanic figures Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba to injury before halftime. However, it looked like the Argentine’s 37-minute cameo on the pitch was enough to inspire his side after they lost 5-2 to Atlanta United in his absence.
Facundo Farías gave Inter Miami the lead just on the brink of halftime with a thumping strike. Ten minutes into the second proceeding, Lionel Messi’s replacement for the night, Robert Taylor, made it 2-0 in favor of the hosts.
Ultimately, USMNT teenage sensation Benjamin Cremaschi killed off the game in the 73rd minute with a third goal following a quick transition. Robert Taylor eventually put the icing on Inter Miami’s cake with a cracking goal to complete his brace.
As it stands, Inter Miami is five points off the MLS playoff spot with two games in hand and six more games to play before the season ends.
Mabika and Toronto in trouble
Meanwhile, Mabika and Toronto FC are 14 points away from a qualification spot with only five more games to play. Hence, it would require nothing short of perfection for Toronto to qualify, along with a sudden dip in the form of the other teams chasing for the spot. The likelihood of such events unfolding is very low.
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Mabika will be disappointed, however, that he had no part to play in trying to salvage something positive against his former side.
The Zambian international is still yet to make his official debut for the Chipolopolo, despite obtaining his citizenship.
