By In a thrilling turn of events, Luis Suárez reclaimed the top spot on the MLS scoring chart with his 11th goal of the season during Inter Miami’s stunning 3-2 comeback victory against CF Montreal on Saturday night. Suárez’s goal, which came just one minute after teammate Matias Rojas had pulled one back for Inter Miami, helped the team erase a two-goal deficit and secure their fifth consecutive win.
Suárez, who entered the match trailing Lionel Messi by one goal, capitalized on a corner kick opportunity to score his fourth goal in two games, following up on his impressive hat trick performance last Saturday. The Uruguayan striker’s consistency and goal-scoring prowess have been instrumental in Inter Miami’s recent success.
Messi, who had a relatively quiet night by his standards, saw his eight-game streak with multiple goal contributions come to an end. The Argentine superstar, who now sits second on the MLS scoring list with 10 goals, had opportunities to find the back of the net but was unable to convert.
His free kicks soared above the crossbar, lacking the necessary bend to find the target, while his attempts in the 84th and 91st minutes were thwarted by an offside call and a block, respectively.
Despite Messi’s subdued performance, Inter Miami displayed their resilience and depth as they mounted a remarkable comeback. Bryce Duke (22′) and Jules-Anthony Vilsaint (32′) had given Montreal a commanding 2-0 lead early in the match, but Rojas’ goal in the 44th minute, scored while Messi was on the sideline, ignited Inter Miami’s resurgence. Rojas has now scored three goals in three matches since joining the club.
Montreal’s late attempts to equalize through Dominic Iankov (69′), Joaquín Sosa (74′), and Joel Waterman (95′) were unsuccessful, as Inter Miami held on to secure the victory and extend their winning streak.
Messi, who had caused concern earlier in the match after being tackled by Montreal’s George Campbell, showed no ill effects from the incident. He continued to possess the ball and contribute to Inter Miami’s play, allaying fears of a potential injury that could have jeopardized his participation in the upcoming Copa America.
As Inter Miami continues to climb the MLS standings, the partnership between Suárez and Messi, along with the emergence of new talents like Rojas, has transformed the team into a formidable force.
With Suárez now leading the league in goals and Messi not far behind, Inter Miami looks poised to make a strong push for the playoffs and potentially challenge for the MLS Cup.
