Inter Miami CF (17W-4L-5D, 56 points) earned a 2-0 win at home at Chase Stadium over FC Cincinnati tonight to clinch the team’s Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs berth with eight regular season fixtures to spare. Notably, Inter Miami became the third-fastest team to secure a spot in the postseason in a 34-game MLS season, doing so within just 26 games; Inter Miami joins LAFC (25 games in 2022 and 2019) and Cincinnati (26 in 2023). Additionally, forward Luis Suárez starred on the night, bagging a brace and breaking two Club records: his first goal was the fastest in team history and he also set a new record for most single-season goals across all competitions.
Post-Match Reaction
“The team did well…In terms of effort and sharpness of the team, in a match that to me seemed that when we were 11 against 11 and when we went down to 10-men, we managed it really well,” said head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino.
Lineup Notes
Inter Miami took the field at Chase Stadium with captain Drake Callender in goal; Marcelo Weigandt, Tomás Avilés, Sergio Busquets, David Martínez and Jordi Alba made up the back five; Federico Redondo and Yannick Bright started in midfield; Diego Gómez and Matías Rojas flanked Suárez in attack.
Match Action
The first historic moment of the match came just 31 seconds in, when Suárez broke two Club records with one goal. Weigandt and Bright played a swift one-two, freeing the Argentine right back down the right wing to whip a cross in for Suárez. The Uruguayan talisman calmly took a touch off his chest and fired a strike inside the near post to make it 1-0. The goal was the fastest in a match in Club history, and also set the new record for most single-season goals across all competitions for an Inter Miami player with 17. The assist, meanwhile, was the first for Weigandt since joining Inter Miami.
Just a few minutes later, Suaréz continued his red-hot form, expanding on the record he just set. A quick transition move launched by Rojas saw nifty interplay between him and the striker, resulting in the creative Paraguayan player sliding a ball into the box for Suárez, whose first touch was another strike past the Cincinnati goalkeeper to make it 2-0 at Chase Stadium. The goal was Suárez’s 18th across all competitions for Inter Miami in 2024, and 14th in MLS play. The assist was Rojas’ third since joining the Club.
The action continued through the half, but the scoreline remained the same. First, Callender made a big reaction save in the 31st minute on a close-range shot by Cincinnati’s Kevin Kelsy. Then, in the 42nd minute, Inter Miami fell to 10 men as a collision saw a second yellow card awarded to Avilés.
The second half then presented a more leveled matchup, with Inter Miami defending stoutly to maintain its lead.
Inter Miami made several substitutions throughout the second 45 minutes aiming to maintain its defensive stability and generate more danger in attack, with Benjamin Cremaschi, Leonardo Campana, David Ruiz and Sergii Kryvtsov replacing Redondo, Suárez, Gómez and Weigandt throughout the half.
Notably, there were two stellar defensive plays for Inter Miami throughout the half, with Callender denying the visitors with important saves in the 71st and 76th minutes, and center back Martínez subsequently clearing a ball off the line in the 76th minute to defend the host’s lead.
Inter Miami’s 2-0 lead remained intact through the final whistle for the Club to earn the win and become the first team in the league to clinch an Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs berth. Notably, all three previous sides to clinch playoffs within 26 games of a 34-game MLS regular season - LAFC (25 games in 2022 and 2019) and Cincinnati (26 in 2023) - went on to win the Supporters’ Shield.
Up Next
Next Inter Miami will hit the road to face Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 8:30 p.m. ET
Publix Theme Night
As part of the Club’s 2024 theme nights, Inter Miami CF organized Good Together Night presented by Publix tonight. Good Together Night presented by Publix is about coming together as a community to provide resources, hope and positive experiences. When we work as a community, amazing things happen.
The first 10,000 fans to enter the gates at Chase Stadium received a complimentary Inter Miami CF and Publix co-branded t-shirt to commemorate the theme night. Additionally, fans were able to enjoy activations from Publix in the Fan Zone presented by Baptist Health.
Stats
Possession:
MIA - 44.3%
CIN - 55.7%
Shots:
MIA - 4
CIN - 17
Saves:
MIA - 6
CIN - 1
Corners:
MIA - 1
CIN - 8
Fouls:
MIA - 12
CIN - 19
