In Major League Soccer on Saturday, Inter Miami defeated D.C. United 3-1 without the injured Lionel Messi thanks to two goals from Luis Suarez, who came off the bench.
With his sixth goal in seven appearances in all competitions for the South Florida club, Suarez maintained his impressive start to life in Major League Soccer.
Coach Gerardo Martino benched Suarez and Jordi Alba even though Miami had lost their last seven games without Messi, a streak that began in September.
Taking advantage of a Mateusz Kilch assist, Jared Stroud gave D.C. United the lead by shooting past Drake Callender on his first attempt.
The lead lasted only for 10 minutes, however, with Leonardo Campana leading the Miami attacking in place of Suarez, seeing a header saved by Alex Bono but then, after D.C. failed to clear, turning in after the ball was scooped to him by Federico Redondo.
Robert Taylor was set up down the left by a brilliant cross-field ball from Busquets, but just before halftime, his low drive struck the outside of the post.
The 37-year-old Uruguayan Suarez was substituted in the 62nd minute with the intention of winning the match.
Ten minutes after entering the game, Suarez completed a brilliant move by heading home a low cross from Campana at the far post.
Then Miami’s potent Paraguayan midfielder Diego Gomez regained the ball in the middle of the pitch, broke forward, and found Suarez, whose first goal attempt was stopped.
But Suarez was able to find space for a chip that Bono clawed at but was unable to stop crossing the line.
D.C United had Pedro Santos sent off after he brought down substitute Shanyder Borgelin in the final minute.
Martino said Suarez’s performance had gone perfectly according to his plan.
“We had talked about him having half an hour and he defined the game,” said the Argentine coach.
“One of the coach’s tasks, with these players, is to convince them when to stop, when to allow themselves a break and not risk injury.
“I try to get them to make a contribution not only when they play 90 minutes but less, and boy, did he do that today.”
Martino said Messi’s rear-leg injury was being dealt with “week to week” and he refused to be drawn on his potential involvement in Argentina’s upcoming friendlies.
“It is clear that with him there is an objective that he can play in the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. We’re not going to take any risks,” he said.
Miami will play Mexican club Monterrey in the regional competition on April 3.
