It has taken a while for Luis Suarez to find his spark at Inter Miami, but when he finally did, he did so in spectacular fashion.
The Uruguayan scored his first and second MLS goals and provided two assists as he, Lionel Messi and co ran riot in Inter Miami’s thumping win over Florida rivals, Orlando City.
The Florida derby was expected to live up to its rivalry billing but the Lions were made to look like kittens against vintage Messi and Suarez, who bagged two goals each.
Saturday’s victory saw the Herons go unbeaten for the first time through its first three games in club history and stay top of the Eastern Conference.
Suarez, who was David Beckham‘s blockbuster signing this offseason to join former Barcelona teammates Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, burst into life after just four minutes.
FIRST MLS GOAL FOR LUIS SUAREZ
What a finish! 💥 pic.twitter.com/Zj6XkA35mI
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 2, 2024
Luis Suarez finally scored his first goal for Inter Miami in their 5-0 win over Orlando City
Lionel Messi also bagged a brace during the rout of the Heron’s Florida rivals Saturday night
The duo gifted MLS fans with a glimpse of their vintage Barcelona quality
Suarez —> Messi
It’s 5-0 in South Florida. 😳 pic.twitter.com/qQjuWINB2W
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 2, 2024
He produced a stunning first-time finish off a low cross from Julian Gressel and volleyed it into the top right corner to hand Miami the dream start.
Seven minutes after breaking the ice, Gressel and Suarez once again teamed up with El Pistolero putting the finishing touches on a nifty give-and-go with the US international to double the lead.
Suarez could have easily turned his brace into a hat-trick in the 29th minute but instead opted to feed across the face of goal to Robert Taylor who extended Miami’s lead to a comfortable 3-0 before the break.
Suarez’s cross from the right wing found an open Taylor against an unsuccessful offside trap by the Orlando City backline and the Finnish midfielder tapped in a 15-yard shot.
The second half heralded the arrival of a touch of Messi magic as the Argentine added to Suarez’s haul with two of his own.
His first wasn’t his finest as the Argentine scrambled the ball over the line after it had pinballed around the box but the quality of his second couldn’t disputed as he sealed the 5-0 win and top spot in the Eastern Conference for Inter Miami.
Messi joined the scoring onslaught with his first goal in the 57th minute. Suarez’s shot deflected off the crossbar and an unmarked Messi easily tapped in the shot inches from the goal line.
Suarez’s centering pass from the left wing found an open Messi, whose header in the 62nd minute closed the scoring.
Tensions escalated when Suárez exchanged words with Orlando players as they walked off the field for the halftime break.
The former Liverpool star bagged his brace just 11 minutes into the game at Chase Stadium
Messi joined the scoring onslaught after the break with his first goal in the 57th minute
Messi easily tapped in the shot inches from the goal line after Suarez’s shot was deflected
The Uruguayan celebrates one of his first-half strikes with Julian Gressel
Saturday began a month of seven matches for Inter Miami while Argentina also has called Messi for two exhibitions during a four-day stretch later in March.
Inter Miami coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino said Friday that Messi´s playing time will be carefully monitored.
In addition to five league matches, Inter Miami will face Nashville SC in a home-and-home set of the CONCACAF Nations Cup round of 16. Argentina will play El Salvador on March 22 and Costa Rica on March 26 as precursors to Copa America later this summer.
Shortly before Saturday´s kickoff, Jaime Herrera replaced Guiherme Ceretta as center referee after photos of Ceretta on social media created a possible conflict of interest.
