Suárez brace not enough as Chicago Fire sink Inter Miami to seal MLS play-off spot

Chicago Fire secured their place in the Major League Soccer play-offs on Tuesday with a thrilling 5-3 victory over Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami in Fort Lauderdale.

Luis Suárez struck twice in the second half to drag Miami level at 3-3, having trailed 3-1, but the Uruguayan’s efforts were ultimately in vain as a weary Miami side – playing their sixth match in just 17 days – conceded two late goals to hand Chicago a landmark win.

The result confirmed Chicago’s first appearance in the MLS postseason since 2017 and marked a triumphant return to club management for Gregg Berhalter, the former United States national team coach dismissed from the role last year.

“It was an objective of ours to reach the play-offs, and we’ve achieved it with two games left,” Berhalter said afterwards. “But for us it’s about continuing to build a strong team that can win.”

Despite Miami enjoying the majority of possession, Chicago’s energy and incisiveness on the counter-attack caused constant problems in the opening half.

Ivorian midfielder Dje D’Avilla opened the scoring with a header from a corner in the 11th minute, before Jonathan Dean doubled the lead on the break shortly after the half-hour mark.

Miami briefly hit back when Tomás Avilés reduced the deficit in the 39th minute, but Rominingue Kouamé restored Chicago’s two-goal cushion just before half-time with another swift counter-attacking strike.

Suárez sparked a Miami fightback after the restart, sliding home a low finish in the 57th minute and then curling in a fine equaliser on 74 minutes to bring the hosts level at 3-3.

However, Miami’s defensive frailties resurfaced. Justin Pledger Reynolds capitalised on poor marking to tap in from close range on 80 minutes, before United States international Brian Gutiérrez sealed the result three minutes later with a thunderous 25-yard effort into the top corner.

The victory sends Chicago into the play-offs brimming with momentum, while Inter Miami’s gruelling schedule appeared to take its toll in the closing stages of an absorbing contest.