Suarez Shines as Inter Miami Edges Seattle in Heated Rematch
MIAMI – Inter Miami’s 38-year-old Argentine star, Luis Suarez, who once lit up Barcelona and led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, played a starring role as Miami defeated the Seattle Sounders 3-1 in a fiery rematch on Wednesday.
Suarez set up Jordi Alba’s opener in the 12th minute before scoring himself in the 41st, giving Miami a comfortable 2-0 lead at halftime. American defender Ian Fray added a third goal in the 52nd minute. Seattle’s Mexican midfielder Obed Vargas pulled one back in the 69th minute, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
The match came with extra tension after Seattle had thrashed Miami 3-0 in the Leagues Cup final on August 31, a game that ended in a benches-clearing brawl and saw Suarez spit on a Sounders staff member. Suarez served the second of a three-match MLS suspension in Wednesday’s clash and had publicly apologized for his actions.
“It was important, beyond just feeling good, to get a win against a strong rival that recently denied us a trophy,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said. “We understood the challenge and played the game we had to play.”
The victory lifts Inter Miami to fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 14-6-7 record and 49 points, just eight points behind leaders Philadelphia with three matches in hand. Miami had slipped to eighth place after a 3-0 loss to Charlotte last weekend.
“We have seven finals left, and our goal is to win all seven to finish first in the conference,” Mascherano added. “It raises expectations, keeps us competitive, and reminds us never to relax.”
For Seattle, the defeat drops them to fourth in the Western Conference with a 12-8-9 record and 45 points, narrowly ahead of Los Angeles FC.
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