Robert Taylor scored his third goal of the season and first since early March, and also had an assist to help Inter Miami beat the host Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 despite the absence of Lionel Messi and other stars.
Leonardo Campana added his fourth goal and second in as many games thanks to Taylor's assist in what ultimately turned out to be the winner. Miami has not lost in 10 consecutive regular season games.
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Messi stayed in Florida along with his former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets as a planned break.
The game was the first of three for Miami (10-2-4, 34 points) in eight days, and the last two at home after the trip to face the Whitecaps.
Ryan Gauld scored his fifth goal for Vancouver (5-5-4, 19 points) when he cut the deficit in half from the penalty spot. But the Whitecaps extended their winless streak to six games.
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Taylor put Miami in front in the 38th minute when he ran onto Jordi Alba's excellent pass down the left flank.
But Taylor still had plenty to do, cutting the ball towards his right foot before unleashing a powerful shot that beat Yohei Takaoka diving into the top right corner.
Miami scored its second goal in the 54th minute on an attack that began when Campana won a 50-50 ball near the center circle, then passed the ball to Taylor on the left.
Taylor used a cutback to elude his first defender off the dribble and then flicked the ball toward the penalty spot, where Campana finished low inside the right post.
Vancouver received a lifeline midway through the second half when video assistant referee Sorin Stoica detected a push in the penalty area by Miami defender Tomas Avilés on Vancouver attacker Fafa Picault.
Referee Joe Dickerson awarded the penalty after reviewing the video and Gauld stepped up to convert from the spot.
“We came without our great players: Leo, Luis, Busi and Diego Gómez,” said Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino after the game.
“And yet we competed well, and that is the most valuable thing. Of course, we would have lost if we had competed well and we would not have the joy we have now. But it is a great reward for the boys for the effort they made.” “.
