FORT LAUDERDALE — Matias Rojas scored twice and had four assists as defending-champion , despite having a player sent off in the 28th minute, hung on to defeat 4-3 in round-of-32 Leagues Cup play Thursday. While there was no , the game had pretty much everything else. The first half featured five goals, a red card and three penalties, one of which was downgraded to a free kick after video review.
Diego Gomez and also scored for Miami, which led 3-1 after 20 minutes and 3-2 at the break. The 35-year-old Alba, who spent 11 seasons with , becomes the first player to record four assists in a Leagues Cup game. , scoring twice from the penalty spot, replied for Toronto which also benefited from an own goal by .
Miami will play at either MLS champion Columbus or , who play Friday in the Ohio capital, on Monday or Tuesday in the round of 16. Despite being down a man, Miami looked composed in the second half and went ahead 4-2 in the 59th minute with Alba laying the ball off for Rojas to knock home from distance with a well-placed shot after a beautiful team buildup. Both teams had chances to add to their totals in the second half and Toronto cut the lead to 4-2 in the 79th minute, with substitute 's header deflecting in off Allen.
Insigne supplied the cross that led to the goal. Miami goalkeeper made a diving save in the 85th minute of a Kevin Long shot to preserve the win. , with the Toronto defence in disarray, hit the goalpost in the 87th minute.
It was one-way traffic to start .