Luis Suarez scored twice on Saturday to help Inter Miami defeat the Chicago Fire 4-1, bringing his season total of goals in 20 Major League Soccer matches to 16.
Miami has already locked up a playoff spot and maintained their lead in the regular season ‘Supporters’ Shield,’ even without Lionel Messi, who is still sidelined due to an ankle injury.
However, Uruguayan striker Suarez continued his stellar scoring streak in a commanding victory, showing no signs of slowing down for Gerardo Martinez’s team.
Miami’s first goal came from the 37-year-old former Barcelona striker in the 25th minute when his shot went into the goal of the defenseless Tobias Salquist but was parried aside by Chicago keeper Chris Brady.
Suarez was on target himself, a minute after the interval when, after a smart exchange with Diego Gomez, he beat Brady with a low left-foot shot which flew into the near post.
After Jordi Alba, his old Barcelona teammate, sent a low ball into the box, the seasoned striker finished close to goal to make it 3-0.
In the 82nd minute, Giorgios Koutsias gave Chicago a goal back, but Leonardo Campana’s break down the right and easy pass to replacement Robert Taylor, the Finnish winger, sealed the victory for Miami.
Defending champions the Columbus Crew, fresh from their Leagues Cup triumph, look well placed to join Miami in the Eastern Conference post-season after two stoppage time goals earned them a 4-2 win over New York City.
Algerian Mounsef Bakrar looked to have earned NYCFC a point after he finished off a swift counter-attack to make it 2-2 in the 86th minute.
However, the Crew, who are currently third in the East, led 4-2 when DeJuan Jones took advantage of some clumsy New York defending in the third minute of stoppage time. Jacen Russell-Rowe then added another goal.
After a 4-1 victory over Montreal, where another Argentine, Luca Orellano, scored twice, FC Cincinnati, who is without banned Argentine Luciano Acosta, is still one spot ahead of the Crew.
Orellano scored a fantastic goal from inside his own half in the 57th minute to make it 3-0.
