Tall task for depleted Inter Miami

Down three defenders, team desperate for win

Inter Miami CF’s game against Toronto FC — Sunday at Rentschler Field in Hartford, Conn. — was already going to be a difficultone. Andtheir recent setbacks have made the matchup even more challenging.

Toronto (12-4-5, 41 points) enters SaturdayNo. 2 in the Eastern Conference in the midst of fighting for theSupporters’ Shield — which is awarded to the team inMajor League Soccer with the best regular-season record.

Meanwhile, Inter Miami (6-12

3, 21 points) are No. 11 in the East after the league announced it’ll use points per game to determine which teams qualify for the playoffs— with the top 10 teams in the conference qualifying — and will be fighting to stay in the playoff contention against Toronto FC without three starting defenders.

“We need to face the situation being positive,” InterMiamicoach Diego Alonso said. “This has happened before for us in previous matches. I remember in the match against the New York Red Bulls [on Oct. 7], we had a similar situation andwe gave confidence to theteamandtheguyswhowere comingin. In this case, it’s going to be similar.

“During the week, as you guys mentioned, [the last game] was one of the first times that I had most of the players available, and it’s unfortunate we’re not able to repeat that situation. Butwe need tobepositive. We continue tofight for the playoffs and with only two games left, we’re still fighting for it.”

Starting right back/center back Nico Figal will be out for “a few weeks” after sustaining a muscleinjury in his left leg during Wednesday’s 2-1 loss against FC Dallas. The team’s starting center back duo of Andres Reyes and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez also won’tbe availableSunday because of yellow-card accumulation.

Christian Makoun will most likely make his second start and third appearance for Inter Miami at center back due to the team’s absences on defense.

MLS veterans Mikey Ambrose (two starts in five games played), A.J. DeLaGarza (three starts in three games played) and Alvas Powell (one start in two games played) are other Inter Miami defenderswhocould playSunday.

Toronto FC, who enter Sunday comingoffback-to-back losses for just the second time all season, are expected to be without U.S. national team star forward Jozy Altidore, who’s missed the team’s last sixgameswithanundisclosed injury.

Their second leading-scorer in midfielder Pablo Piatti is also expected miss Sunday’smatchup with an undisclosed injury while Toronto’s third leading-scorer in forwardAyoAkinolawas listed as questionable Saturday morning.

Toronto FC missing key players could give Inter Miami a better opportunity to pull off the much-needed upset despite their absences during this crucial period of the regular season.

“Sunday’s obviously a very important match,” Inter Miami midfielder Blaise Matuidi said. “It’ll be against a very tough team. We obviously have players missing, but we also know we have other playerswhocanstepupand fill those roles. We’ll reallyhave to play as ateamtomake surewe get the resultwewant.”

Sunday’s matchup will help make or break Inter Miami’s chances of making the playoffs with only two games left in the regular season.

Theywere tiedwith 10th-place ChicagoFireFCD.C. United (5-10

6, 21 points) in points as of Saturday morning, with Chicago (20) playing one less game than both Miami and D.C. (21) before it’s Saturdayeveningmatchupagainst Nashville SC.

Everyteaminthe East is scheduled to finish the regular season with 23 games played, so the standings in the conference are expected tobalance outby theend of the season onNov. 8.

TheMLSDisciplinaryCommittee said Inter Miami violated the “massconfrontation policy during the 57th minute of their match” against FC Dallas. Head referee Victor Rivas could be seen on the broadcast counting six Inter Miami players surrounding him while they disputed the penalty. According to the league, the violation was the team’s second of the season, meaning the club and Alonsowerefinedan undisclosed amount of money.