Even without Messi, Inter Miami dominates Fire 4-1

Luis Suárez scored two goals in a second straight match, making up for the absence of superstar Lionel Messi, to spark Inter Miami to a 4-1 victory over the Fire on Saturday night at Soldier Field.

Messi hasn’t stepped on the pitch since injuring his ankle while playing for Argentina in the Copa America final July 14. He also missed Miami’s trip to Chicago last season when he was injured. The chance of seeing him this season drew a crowd of 55,385.

The Fire (6-13-8) avoided the shutout in the 82nd minute when 20-year-old forward Georgios Koutsias scored for the first time this season. The Fire remain tied with Nashville for last place in the Eastern Conference with 26 points, five behind Atlanta (31) for the ninth and final playoff spot.

Suárez scored both goals in a 2-0 victory over visiting Cincinnati last time out as Inter Miami became the third-fastest team to clinch a playoff spot in a 34-match season. Only Los Angeles FC (25 in 2019 and 2022) and Cincinnati (26 in 2023) qualified earlier. He scored the earliest goal in club history when he needed just 30 seconds to find the net against Cincinnati.

Inter Miami (18-4-5) led 1-0 at halftime, thanks to an own goal by Fire defender Tobias Salquist in the 25th minute.

Suarez scored in the first minute of the second half for a two-goal lead, and the 37-year-old forward made it 3-0 in the 65th minute with his single-season club-record 16th goal in his first season in the league. Diego Gómez notched his seventh assist on the first goal. Defender Jordi Alba earned his eighth assist on the second score, while Sergio Busquets tallied his sixth.