After a shocking first half that saw Inter Miami trailing 1-3 at home Tuesday, veteran striker Luis Suárez took the helm and scored twice to tie the game against the Chicago Fire.
But Miami could not stop Chicago from scoring twice during the final ten minutes of the game to wrap it up.
“We imagined a game where we could have possession, control of the game,” said Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano. “It’s a shame.”
The two teams came into the game with Miami the clear favorite. But Chicago struck first in the eleventh minute with a tap-in goal by Dje Tah D’Avilla. Then came a second by Jonathan Dean in the 31st minute at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Tomás Avilés scored for Inter Miami nine minutes later in a chaotic scramble in front of the goal before the Fire’s Romingue Kouamé bagged the traveling team’s third goal of the night just before the end of the half.
Suárez scored two goals for Miami in the second half to level the game at 3-3. But then in the 80th minute, Chicago reclaimed their lead, and four minutes later, midfielder Brian Gutierrez hit a powerful fifth goal from outside the box to secure the three points.
In the post-game press conference, Mascherano laid all responsibility on himself for the loss.
“Clearly, the error in the approach was mine,” he said, “This defeat is solely my responsibility.”
The Fire’s 5-3 win secured them a spot in the post-season MLS playoffs for the first time since 2017, while Inter Miami has already qualified. Tuesday night’s loss meant the South Floridians’ hopes for winning the regular season Supporters’ Shield have practically disappeared. League leaders Philadelphia Union are one win away from that title.
Miami won the Supporters’ Shield in 2024 after breaking the record for most points in a single season with 74 in 34 games.
Inter Miami currently sits in fourth place in the MLS Eastern Conference with 56 points in 31 games, 7 points behind first place Philadelphia Union.
Despite missing out on the Supporters’ Shield, Miami still has much to play for with just three games remaining before the MLS playoffs.
Lionel Messi leads the Golden Boot race for the 2025 MLS season with 24 goals, followed by Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga, who is second with 23 goals.
Stakes remain high.
“We are trying to close out these matches in the best way possible and finish as high as possible on the table,” Mascherano said. “Then, we’re going to try to compete to win the championship.”
Inter Miami hosts 11th place New England Revolution this Saturday, October 4 at 7:30 p.m..
