Inter Miami Clinches Playoff Spot With Win Over FC Cincinnati

Chase Stadium- Inter Miami clinched a playoff spot with a 2-0 victory over FC Cincinnati Saturday night at Chase Stadium. Luis Suarez bagged a brace and broke a pair of team records with his magical performance.

Starting XI

Inter Miami started the match in a 4-3-3 formation with Drake Callender in the goal, Jordi Alba, Tomas Aviles, David Martinez, and Marcelo Weigandt in the backline of four. Sergio Busquets, Yannick Bright, and Federico Redondo the midfield trio. Matias Rojas, Luis Suarez, and Diego Gomez the attacking frontline.

Tata goes with his usual Starting XI & his 4-3-3 formation…Martinez is back paired with Avilés giving Busquets the chance in midfield with Bright, & Redondo..

Big game 🆚 Cincy with playoff & Supporter’s Shield 🛡️ implications..#InterMiamiCF #MLS pic.twitter.com/aYRZWBEKLA

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 24, 2024

The Herons began the match furiously, with Luis Suarez netting a brace less than 10 minutes into the game. Suarez’s first goal at 31 seconds was the fastest in team history; Leo Campana held the previous record when he scored in 33 seconds against Orlando City.

Marcelo Weigandt, after a give-and-go with Yannick Bright, delivered a cross into the box that Suarez controlled with his chest and then pounded into the Cincy net. The score gave Suarez 17 goals in all competitions for Miami breaking the single-season record previously held by Gonzalo Higuain.

33 seconds into the match Luis Suarez “El Pistolero” slams one in for #InterMiamiCF… What a start for the Herons! 1-0… #MLS

pic.twitter.com/M9R5H7Xozf

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 24, 2024

Miami was focused and clinical, as Matias Rojas and Luis Suarez teamed up to double the lead 6 minutes into the match to make it 2-0.

Luis Suarez puts the 2nd one home for #InterMiamiCF after receiving a perfect pass into the box by Matias Rojas…The Herons are soaring early on in the match… 2-0

pic.twitter.com/vZA55vhWvd

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 24, 2024

Inter Miami looked like they were going to run away with the match but a rough tackle by Tomas Aviles led to a second yellow card and an early exit for the young center-back in the 42nd minute. Aviles has a knack for making untimely fouls in critical moments and big games for Miami. His exit changed the match’s course, causing Martino’s formation to shift in the second half to compensate for being down a man.

Inter Miami went to five in the back and dedicated the entirety of the second half to defending and counterattacking Cincinnati. Great saves by Drake Callender and a heroic clearance on the goal line by David Martinez allowed Miami to keep the clean sheet on the night.

Postgame

I asked Tata Martino how he could correct Tomas Aviles’s pension for committing costly fouls, often in big matches. Martino began by saying that he would talk to the young center-back because his role as coach is to help him develop into the best player he can be,

I’m not here to punish him, on the contrary, I’m here to try and help him grow so that he becomes the player that he can be because he is a center-back with enormous ability

Tata’s answer when I asked about Toto’s silly red card,

“ I’m not here to punish him, on the contrary, I’m here to try & help him grow so that he becomes the player that he can be because he is a center-back with enormous ability”…#InterMiamiCF #MLS pic.twitter.com/xbuzs5Luwk

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 25, 2024

Tata believes in Tomas Aviles, so much so that he is making it clear that the young center-back is a work in progress and he will not bench him yet. Martino is giving Aviles every opportunity to succeed, but Tomas still has much to learn and improve upon as a professional player.

Final Thoughts

Inter Miami handled their business against FC Cincinnati and secured their spot in the MLS playoffs. Against a quality team like Cincy, and with a man down for more than half of the game, Miami showed grit and mental fortitude. Aviles’s lack of focus did not spread onto his teammates as they put in a professional performance.

Luis Suarez is an all-time great player. On one knee “El Pistolero” can carry the team on his back. His two goals against Cincinnati was another vintage performance by one of the greatest strikers to ever play the game of futbol.

Tomas Aviles must grow up very quickly, like right now. Another knucklehead red card cannot happen in Inter Miami’s quest for MLS Cup. The Herons cannot lose a golden opportunity to put another trophy in the case because of mental breakdowns. Aviles had no reason to slide tackle with his cleats up in the middle of the pitch far away from his goal. The young center-back must show his teammates that he can be trusted in the big games.

The Herons continue firmly on their mission to win the MLS Cup and the Supporter’s Shield. They are the only two prizes left for Miami to obtain. Inter Miami will have very disappointed fans and owners if they don’t bring home the Cup.