Inter Miami CF have punched the first Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs ticket. The Herons secured their place with Saturday's 2-0 win over FC Cincinnati, becoming the third team in MLS history to earn a playoff berth within the first 26 matches of a 34-game season.
Inter Miami CF (17W-4L-5D, 56 points) earned a 2-0 win at home at Chase Stadium over FC Cincinnati tonight to clinch the team’s Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with eight regular season fixtures to spare. Notably, Inter Miami became the third-fastest team to secure a spot in the postseason in a 34-game MLS season, doing so within just 26 games; Inter Miami joins LAFC (25 games in 2022 and 2019) and Cincinnati (26 in 2023). Additionally, forward Luis Suárez starred on the night, bagging a brace and breaking two Club records: his first goal was the fastest in team history and he also set a new record for most single-season goals across all competitions.
Tata Martino's side will now seek the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed and their first-ever Supporters' Shield title, potentially accomplishing both before Decision Day (Oct. 19). With eight matches left, Inter Miami lead the overall MLS standings (56 points; 2.15 ppg) and could challenge the single-season points record set by the 2021 New England Revolution (73).
Inter Miami boast potentially the most talented roster in MLS history, highlighted by former FC Barcelona stars Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. The supporting cast is also key, with Paraguayan internationals Matías Rojas and Diego Gómez adding to the attack alongside Leo Campana, Julian Gressel and Robert Taylor. Young midfielders Yannick Bright, Federico Redondo and Benjamin Cremaschi are crucial, too.
Defense is arguably Miami's weakness, though midseason signing David Martínez has calmed nerves. He forms a back-four with Alba, Marcelo Weigandt and Tomás Avilés, which is supported by goalkeeper Drake Callender.
The 37-year-old Uruguayan forward punished Cincinnati with two goals in the first six minutes of the rematch at home Saturday night, delighting the spirited Chase Stadium crowd of 20,106, which included NFL legend Tom Brady. Miami hung on to win 2-0 and clinch a spot in the MLS Playoffs with eight games to spare, despite going down a man in the 42nd minute.
Suarez scored 31 seconds into the game, the fastest goal in club history. Inter Miami looked sharp from the opening whistle, moved the ball well and Marcelo Weigandt crossed the ball to Suarez, who right-footed it to the bottom left corner of the goal.
It was Suarez’s 17th goal across all competitions this season, which topped Gonzalo Higuian (16) for best in club history. And, he wasn’t done for the night.
Suarez lived up to his “Pistolero” (Gunslinger) nickname and scored for the 18th time this season with another goal in the sixth minute. He made a nice run, despite his aging knees, and made another trademark finish after receiving a perfectly-paced through ball from Matias Rojas.
Suarez celebrated his goal by lifting his jersey and revealing a t-shirt that read: “Fuerza Juan”, a tribute to Uruguayan Nacional defender Juan Izquierdo, who collapsed during a Copa Libertadores match against Sao Paolo in Brazil on Thursday. He was unconscious when he was taken away from the field in an ambulance. Izuierdo remains in stable condition in ICU at a Sao Paolo hospital. Uruguay suspended all games this weekend due to Izquierdo’s delicate health.
“He’s come into the team, scored a lot of goals, been a playmaker, so for him to add goals to his tally is massive for us,” Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender said of Suarez. “It just shows his class, his intelligence and how smart he is as a player. For him to be competing at this level at his age shows how much of a professional he is. That’s what he’s done his whole career.”
Coach Tata Martino added: “What Luis gives us, in addition to his goals, which is most important, is his competitive spirit, his effort and dedication to the team, which he displayed once again.”
Miami held on to the 2-0 lead the rest of the first half, but went down a man in the 42nd minute when defender Tomas Aviles was ejected after getting slapped with a second yellow card. The game had gotten a bit testy by that point. Former Inter Miami captain DeAndre Yedlin got a yellow card for dissent after Aviles’ foul and Suarez was shown a yellow in first-half added time after fouling Yedlin as the defender fell out of bounds into the ad boards.
Forced the play the second half with 10 men, Martino replaced Rojas with defender Ian Fray. Miami clung to the lead and survived, thanks in large part to a handful of huge saves by Callender and relentless defending from the back line.
“The most important thing in that situation, playing a man down, is to stay organized, and we did that,” Martino said. “We were able to manage the game well in the second half. Though we gave up some ground, Cincinnati didn’t have too many scoring chances.”
Team captain Lionel Messi was out for the 19th game this year as he recuperates from a right ankle injury. He returned to individual training on the field early in the week after spending five weeks just doing gym work. Martino had no estimate for Messi’s return date but said he is progressing well, and it should not be long.
Miami’s lineup Saturday included: Callender, Sergio Busquets, Aviles, Rojas, Suarez, David Martinez, Jordi Alba, Diego Gomez, Yannick Bright, Fede Redondo and Weigandt.
Julian Gressel missed the game for personal reasons.
The return of center back Martinez to the lineup after serving a one-game red-card suspension meant Busquets could move back to his natural defensive midfield position, where he played alongside Bright, an Italian rookie from University of New Hampshire who has been one of the surprises of the season.
Miami’s bench Saturday included CJ Dos Santos, Ian Fray, Sergiy Kryvtsov, Noah Allen, Franco Negri, Benja Cremaschi, David Ruiz, Leo Campana and Robert Taylor.
Inter Miami players said they were highly motivated to win the club’s first MLS Cup after being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup and the Round of 16 of the Leagues Cup.
“We wanted to win all three; obviously, we didn’t get the chance to win the other two, so now we’re pulling it all out for the MLS Cup,” Taylor said.
Callender said: “We want to go for the big one, which is the MLS Cup. It was a non-negotiable to get there, now we clinched playoffs, and we have to put ourselves in position physically, mentally and emotionally to be prepared for playoffs.”
The last time these two teams played, on July 6, Miami had a depleted roster and was embarrassed on the road. Six starters were missing from that game: Messi, Suarez, Alba, Gomez, Rojas and Aviles. Also, Busquets was ejected with 30 minutes remaining in that game.
Miami leads the Supporters Shield race with the league’s best record. After Saturday’s win, Inter Miami opened an eight-point lead over second place Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference standings. The Los Angeles Galaxy is six points behind and LAFC is nine points back, with two games in hand.
Inter Miami hits the road next weekend to play the Chicago Fire and then has two weeks off during the FIFA break.
