Miami secure place in MLS playoffs despite Messi absence

3 months ago 5

By AFP

25 August 2024 | 5:42 am

Luis Suarez struck twice as ten-man Inter Miami became the first team to book their place in this season's Major League Soccer playoffs after beating Cincinnati 2-0 at Chase Stadium on Saturday. Uruguayan veteran Suarez scored just 32 seconds into the game and added a second five minutes later as Miami, without injured superstar Lionel…

Luis Suarez struck twice as ten-man Inter Miami became the first team to book their place in this season’s Major League Soccer playoffs after beating Cincinnati 2-0 at Chase Stadium on Saturday.

Uruguayan veteran Suarez scored just 32 seconds into the game and added a second five minutes later as Miami, without injured superstar Lionel Messi, secured their place in the post-season.

Miami are eight points clear of second-placed Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference.

Messi has not played since he suffered an ankle injury in Argentina’s win over Colombia in the final of Copa America on July 14.

But Miami expect Messi will be back before the end of the regular season which concludes on October 19 with the playoffs beginning the following week.

Cincinnati humiliated Miami with a 6-1 victory over Gerardo Martino’s team in Ohio on July 6th and the way the game started indicated Inter were determined to avenge that loss.

Yannick Bright fed Marcelo Weigandt down the right and the Argentine found Suarez who brought the ball down before burying it in the net.

With former NFL great Tom Brady watching on in the company of Miami co-owner David Beckham, former Barcelona striker Suarez then doubled the advantage with another clinical finish after a smart one-two with Matias Rojas.

Miami looked in firm control of the game until three minutes before the break, when their Argentine defender Tomas Aviles was sent off for a second yellow card after a reckless, lunging challenge on Kevin Kelsy.

At the break Cincinnati brought on Luciano Acosta, the league’s reigning Most Valuable Player, who is returning from an injury absence.

And while the Argentine added a creative edge in the second half, he wasn’t able to stop Cincinnati from suffering a fourth straight loss in the league.

Miami kept their shape and discipline as they protected their lead with Italian midfielder Yannick Bright delivering another impressive performance.

NOW

5 mins ago

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thundery and rainy activities across the country from Sunday to Tuesday. NiMet’s weather outlook, released on Saturday, forecast thunderstorms over parts of Borno, Jigawa, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi, and Gombe States in the northern region during Sunday’s morning hours. According to the agency, thunderstorms are expected over most parts…

1 day ago

Eleven suspected railway vandals have been arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Bauchi State Command. The suspects were accused of stealing the tracks and sleepers while loading the stolen items in a truck. The Commandant, Ilelaboye Oyejide who paraded the suspects on Saturday in Bauchi, said that the Corp also…

1 day ago

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) have charged the Bauchi State Government with provision of an enabling space for youths to thrive through youth friendly policies. While speaking during a programme to mark this year's International Youth Day on Saturday, organised by SDGs Office in Bauchi in…

1 day ago

The First Lady of Kwara State, Olufolake AbdulRazaq, has highlighted the importance of economic empowerment, individual development and political participation as crucial drivers of women's development. She emphasized the need to protect women's rights, ensure education for the adolescent girl child and safeguard them from harm that includes child marriage and gender-based violence. AbdulRazaq stated…

1 day ago

The federal government, led by President Bola Tinubu, has launched close to 11 key initiatives aimed at stimulating economic growth, assisting small businesses, and developing the skills of Nigerian youth. Among the initiatives launched by the president is the Nigeria Consumer Credit Scheme Loan. Tinubu's mission is to enable access to consumer credit to all…

1 day ago

National Assembly lawmaker in the House of Representatives, representing Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Gabriel Saleh Zock, has provided the sum of N100 million to empower 1,000 women and youths in his constituency as a business grant. Nine hundred of the women and youths, who were selected from the 22 wards that make up…

1 day ago

The Anambra Government has banned all social events, weddings, shows and entertainment on public school premises. Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, the state's Commissioner for Education, made this known in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ifeoma Agbaizu, in Awka on Saturday. Chuma-Udeh said the move was to protect school premises and infrastructure from being…

1 day ago

The federal government, through the Presidential CNG Initiative, is implementing a Commercial Vehicle Conversion Incentive Programme (CV-CIP) that provides for free conversion (labour inclusive) of union-registered vehicles in major cities where the conversion programme has been activated in Nigeria, as well as ride-share vehicles, from which operators can benefit from a 50% discount. Are you…

1 day ago

Poised to assist as many Lagos residents as possible with various health challenges, the Onome Omobolaji Obada Foundation (OOOF) partnered with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on a one-week medical outreach at Military Hospital in Ikoyi, Lagos. According to the founder and convener, United Lagos and chairperson of OOOF, Votu Obada, the foundation was created…

Visit Source