Suarez Scores Twice as Inter Miami Dominates Chicago 4-1

Luis Suarez continued his prolific form, netting twice to bring his season total to 16 goals in 20 Major League Soccer games, as Inter Miami secured a commanding 4-1 victory over Chicago Fire on Saturday.

Miami, still without Lionel Messi due to an ongoing ankle injury, has already clinched a spot in the playoffs and remains at the top of the standings in the race for the regular season’s ‘Supporters’ Shield’.

Despite their secure position, Gerardo Martino’s side showed no signs of complacency, with Suarez once again leading the charge. The 37-year-old former Barcelona star played a crucial role in Miami’s opening goal in the 25th minute when his shot was parried by Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady, only for the ball to deflect into the net off defender Tobias Salquist.

Suarez doubled the lead just a minute into the second half, slotting a low left-footed shot past Brady at the near post after a well-executed exchange with Diego Gomez. The Uruguayan striker completed his brace and made it 3-0 with a close-range finish following a precise low cross from his former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba.

Chicago managed to pull one back in the 82nd minute through Giorgios Koutsias, but Miami sealed their victory when Leonardo Campana broke down the right flank and set up substitute Robert Taylor, who calmly slotted the ball home.

Elsewhere, defending champions Columbus Crew, fresh off their Leagues Cup triumph, look set to join Miami in the Eastern Conference playoffs after securing a 4-2 win over New York City with two stoppage-time goals. Algerian forward Mounsef Bakrar had leveled the score for New York in the 86th minute, but DeJuan Jones and Jacen Russell-Rowe found the net in injury time to secure the win for the Crew, who currently sit third in the East.

FC Cincinnati, missing suspended Argentine star Luciano Acosta, retained their second-place position ahead of the Crew following a 4-1 win over Montreal. Another Argentine, Luca Orellano, scored twice for Cincinnati, with his second goal—a remarkable strike from inside his own half in the 57th minute—making it 3-0.

In the Western Conference, second-placed Los Angeles FC suffered a surprising 2-0 home loss to seventh-placed Houston Dynamo. Ezequiel Ponce gave the visitors the lead in the 28th minute, capitalizing on LAFC’s failure to clear the ball. Substitute Lawrence Ennali doubled the lead in the 70th minute, showcasing his speed by racing down the left flank, cutting inside, and rounding Hugo Lloris to score into an empty net.

Meanwhile, Colombian Juan Mosquera’s 54th-minute goal secured a 1-0 victory for the Portland Timbers over Seattle Sounders in the Pacific Northwest derby. Portland, Houston, and Seattle are all tied on 40 points in the tight race for the top seven spots, with Seattle currently eighth on goal difference.