Miami is eight points ahead of second-place Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference.
MIAMI: Luis Suarez scored twice as ten-man Inter Miami became the first team to secure a spot in this season’s Major League Soccer playoffs after beating Cincinnati 2-0 at Chase Stadium on Saturday.
Uruguayan veteran Suarez found the net just 32 seconds into the game and added another goal five minutes later. Despite missing their injured superstar Lionel Messi, Miami secured their place in the postseason.
Miami is eight points ahead of second-place Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference.
Messi hasn’t played since he injured his ankle during Argentina’s win over Colombia in the Copa America final on July 14.
However, Miami expects Messi to return before the regular season ends on October 19, with the playoffs starting the following week.
Cincinnati embarrassed Miami with a 6-1 victory over Gerardo Martino’s team in Ohio on July 6, and the way the game began showed that Inter was determined to get revenge for that loss.
Yannick Bright passed the ball to Marcelo Weigandt on the right, and the Argentine found Suarez, who controlled the ball before smashing it into the net.
With former NFL star Tom Brady watching alongside Miami co-owner David Beckham, former Barcelona striker Suarez then doubled the lead with a precise finish after a quick one-two with Matias Rojas.
Miami seemed to be in control until three minutes before halftime, when their Argentine defender Tomas Aviles was sent off for a second yellow card after a reckless tackle on Kevin Kelsy.
At halftime, Cincinnati brought on Luciano Acosta, the league’s current Most Valuable Player, who was returning from injury.
While the Argentine added creativity in the second half, he couldn’t prevent Cincinnati from suffering their fourth straight loss in the league.
Miami maintained their shape and discipline, with Italian midfielder Yannick Bright putting in another strong performance.
