Inter Miami CF 4 – 2 CF Montréal
Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi put on a show Wednesday night in Fort Lauderdale, each scoring twice and registering an assist to power Inter Miami to a 4-2 win over CF Montréal.
The win marked just the second in nine matches across all competitions for Inter Miami (7-3-5, 26 points), who also snapped a four-game winless run in MLS play to climb to sixth in the Eastern Conference.
It was another tough night for last-place Montréal (1-10-5, 8 points), who suffered their second defeat in three games.
Suárez, who hadn’t scored since Miami’s last win on May 3, found the net twice in quick succession in the second half — his only goals in MLS play since early this season. His brace came in the 68th and 71st minutes and proved to be the difference in securing all three points.
The first of Suárez’s goals came thanks to some vintage magic from Messi, who danced along the end line, drew a defender, and lofted a perfect ball into the box. Suárez was waiting unmarked and buried the chance past goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
Just three minutes later, Suárez pounced on a poor touch by Montréal defender George Campbell, intercepting the ball and calmly slotting home again to make it 3-0.
Montréal pulled one back in the 74th minute when Dante Sealy tapped in a cross from Caden Clark — his second goal of the season — to spoil Miami’s clean sheet.
But Messi had the final say. In the 87th minute, Suárez returned the favor with a pinpoint cross, and Messi finished it from close range to put the game out of reach.
Messi had opened the scoring in the 27th minute. After receiving a pass from Sergio Busquets near the edge of the box, the Argentine maestro took a touch and rifled a low shot from distance past Sirois.
Montréal’s Victor Loturi added a late goal in stoppage time, assisted by Sealy and Fernando Alvarez, but it was too little, too late.
Despite the win, it wasn’t all good news for Inter Miami. Already missing midfielder Yannick Bright, the team was dealt further blows as three key starters — Jordi Alba, Gonzalo Luján, and Tomás Avilés — were all forced off with injuries in the first half.
