Inter Miami CF continued their strong run in Major League Soccer on Wednesday night, surviving a spirited Chicago Fire FC comeback to earn a 3-2 victory at Nu Stadium in Miami.
This was a fixture that never fully settled. Chicago landed the first blow in unusual fashion when Inter Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo turned the ball into his own net at 18′, handing the visitors an early lead and briefly quieting the home crowd.
Miami responded with the kind of authority their supporters have come to expect. Luis Suárez brought the hosts level at 27′, calmly converting from the penalty spot to make it 1-1 before the interval. It was a deserved equaliser in a first half where Inter Miami began to grow into possession and ask more questions in the final third.
The hosts carried that momentum into the second half and Suárez struck again at 51′, finishing his second goal of the night to put Miami 2-1 in front. The veteran forward was clinical when the opening arrived, and his brace looked set to give Inter Miami control of the contest.
Chicago, though, refused to fade. After Jack Elliott went into the book at 64′, the Fire found a route back into the match through Puso Dithejane, who finished at 67′ to restore parity at 2-2. It was a timely response from the visitors and a reminder that this remained a live, open fixture despite Miami’s edge in possession and chances.
With both sides pushing for a winner, the decisive moment arrived late. Substitute Preston Plambeck provided it at 87′, striking a volley to send Inter Miami back in front at 3-2. It was a dramatic finish and ultimately the goal that settled an entertaining MLS encounter.
Chicago still pressed in stoppage time, but Miami saw it out, even as tensions rose late and Sergio Reguilón was shown a yellow card at 90’+7′. At full time, Inter Miami had done enough to protect their lead and secure another valuable three points.
Statistically, the match reflected just how competitive it was. Inter Miami held 53.2 percent possession, recorded 14 shots and put seven efforts on target, while Chicago actually produced 15 shots of their own. Miami also won the corner count 8-4, underlining the sustained pressure they were able to build, especially across the middle stages of the match.
In the end, Suárez’s two-goal performance at 27′ and 51′ set the platform, and Plambeck’s late strike at 87′ delivered the finishing touch. Chicago will take encouragement from their resilience and goals through the 18′ own goal by Rocco Ríos Novo and Dithejane’s finish at 67′, but they leave Miami empty-handed after coming up just short in a highly watchable fixture.
Goal scorers: Rocco Ríos Novo (own goal, 18′), Luis Suárez (penalty, 27′), Luis Suárez (51′), Puso Dithejane (67′), Preston Plambeck (87′).
