Luis Suarez scored Inter Miami’s fastest ever goal as part of a brace in a 2-0 MLS win over Cincinnati which made them the first team to reach the 2024 play-offs.
Uruguay striker Suarez fired the opener from Marcelo Weigandt’s cross after 31 seconds at the Chase Stadium and struck his second in the sixth minute from Matias Rojas’s pass.
The 37-year-old set the record for the most goals in a single season for Miami with his first, taking his tally to 18 with his second as they moved eight points clear of their second-placed visitors.
Luis Suárez con el gol más rápido en la historia del club 💥😮💨 pic.twitter.com/eN2ntUN4Ur
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 24, 2024
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Miami ‘want MLS Cup’
“Our goals are set super high and our standards are set super high,” said Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender, whose superb save denied Kevin Kelsy in the 31st minute. “We want to win – we want to win the Eastern Conference, we want to win the MLS Cup.”
Miami’s task was made tougher by the dismissal of Argentina Under-20s centre-back Tomas Aviles for a second yellow card three minutes before the break.
Callender made two saves in six minutes during the second half, with centre-back David Martinez also producing a clearance off the line.
HE CAN’T STOP SCORING ⚽🔥 1️⃣8️⃣ goals and counting for @LuisSuarez9 🤯 pic.twitter.com/xinhnx3GO7
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 24, 2024
Miami in MLS play-offs
The Herons lost 6-1 at Cincinnati on July 7 but have now become the fourth-fastest team in an MLS season to secure a play-off place, averaging 2.15 points per game.
“We didn’t suffer very much,” said coach Gerardo Martino. “Staying organised was crucial to closing out the game… the order of the team meant that we didn’t risk losing the match.
“What we have to do is continue to maintain our performance. We don’t want to try to modify the way in which the team is facing each of the matches because we’re on the final stretch.
“In terms of effort and sharpness of the team… when we went down to 10 men, we managed it really well.”
Inter Miami table, fixtures
Columbus Crew now look to be Miami’s likeliest rivals for top spot, standing 13 points behind them with three games in hand.
Miami’s next fixture is a trip next Saturday (8.30pm ET) to third-bottom Chicago, who drew 2-2 at New York City on Saturday.
