Lionel Messi hasn’t played for Inter Miami since June 1. Thanks to Luis Suarez, it hasn’t mattered much for the club.

Suarez continued his incredible form since returning from Copa America action, scoring a second half brace to power Miami to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Fire Saturday.

Suarez has scored six goals in his seven matches back from the Copa, with four coming in the last two contests. Miami have won all four MLS matches in that span. He is clearly making his case for MVP.

Chicago caved in early and couldn’t get back on track against the Eastern Conference leaders. In the 25th minute, Chicago’s Tobias Salquist saw the ball deflect off of him into his own net, handing the Herons the early advantage they needed – one that set the tone for the clash, too. Suarez forced the initial shot, and that was the start of his performance, as well.

Come the final 45 minutes, Suarez bagged an effort just one minute into the second half to double their lead and added a second to his tally in the 66th minute, as well.

Chicago did earn a late consolation goal, with Georgios Koutsias tapping home in the 82nd minute, but the momentum was short lived, with Miami’s Robert Taylor adding a fourth in stoppage-time to put the result in stone.

With the result, the Herons inch closer to the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield, with Miami remaining atop the table regardless of other performances at the end of the weekend.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Messi joined a full Inter Miami training session for the first time since June this past week, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner targeting a September return to the pitch after sustaining an injury at Copa America 2024 with Argentina. He’ll arrive in time for the Herons’ playoff push.

• USA Today Images

  THE MVP

  Luis Suarez:

  The Uruguayan talisman of Miami was once again the most threatening player on the pitch in the absence of Messi. The 37-year-old forward forced the own-goal out of Salquist in the first half, and followed it up with his cheeky near-post finish minutes into the second half to officially get on the scoresheet.

  He added a second 20 minutes later, firing home in clinical fashion to give them a 3-0 lead. He’s not the most active player on the pitch, but in the moments where he knows he needs to be on, he is lethal.

  Suarez now has 16 goals and five assists on the season.

• THE BIG LOSER

  Tobias Salquist:

  The Chicago Fire defender conceded a 25th minute own goal, following a sequence of defensive errors from himself.

  First, he found himself beaten by Miami’s Gomez on the counter, and the Paraguayan then placed the ball on a platter for Suarez to fire home. Fortunately, goalkeeper Chris Brady denied the Uruguayan, but Salquist was caught flat-footed and ball-watching. His lapse allowed the ball to rebound off him and into his own net after Brady’s save.

• WHAT COMES NEXT?

  Miami return to action on Saturday, Sept. 14 against the Philadelphia Union. Until then, the FIFA international window begins this week, and the Herons are expected to have a handful of players called up to represent their respective nations.

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