MIAMI — Preston Plambeck netted his first career goal in MLS during the 87th minute, while Luis Suárez scored twice, leading Inter Miami CF to a 3-2 victory over Chicago on Wednesday night. This result denied Robert Lewandowski a triumphant debut for the Fire.
With a record of 10-2-4, Miami has now secured five consecutive wins, a streak that began before MLS’s six-week break for the FIFA World Cup. The team played without stars Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul, who are currently resting after their World Cup run with Argentina.
“I want to congratulate the whole team, which has worked incredibly hard during this time,” Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos remarked post-match. “We’ve been executing well. I also want to extend my congratulations to the entire club; there are countless individuals behind the scenes contributing to this joy. It’s truly touching because that’s what football represents: emotions, achievements, and feelings.”
Suárez originally scored three goals, marking his first MLS hat trick since 2024, during Miami’s last match before the break—a thrilling 6-4 win over Philadelphia.
Suárez’s shot from the edge of the box was initially saved by goalkeeper Chris Brady, but Plambeck was quick to capitalize on the rebound, securing the win for Miami in the dying moments of the game.
The Fire took an early lead in the 18th minute when an own goal was scored by goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo. Miami defender Ian Fray inadvertently played a slow ball that slipped between Ríos Novo’s legs during an attempted pass.
Suárez equalized with a penalty in the 27th minute, making it 1-1.
Puso Dithejane came on for Philip Zinckernagel in the 62nd minute and scored his first MLS goal with a quick shot just inside the penalty area, leveling the game at 2-2 in the 67th minute. Plambeck then clinched the match for Miami in stoppage time.
Hoyos spoke about the absence of Messi and De Paul after the match, emphasizing the necessity of rest for players.
“I believe, as I’ve stated repeatedly, that rest is essential for individual growth and development,” Hoyos mentioned. “They require this downtime, and we’re ready to offer them all the time they need. There are no specific return dates; we value their well-being greatly and want them back only when they are fully ready to return. The last 50 days have been incredibly demanding due to the intense pressure and World Cup play. It has taken a significant physical and mental toll, and they truly deserve this rest. We will be here when they are fit to come back.”
Lewandowski, now 37, signed with the Fire on June 29, but his debut was postponed due to a rescheduled game against Vancouver that was moved to October 6 because of poor air quality in the Chicago area.
A seven-time Bundesliga Golden Boot winner, Lewandowski scored a record-breaking 41 goals during the 2020-21 season with Bayern Munich.
Chicago’s record stands at 8-5-2, and their three-game winning streak has been halted.
Hugo Cuypers, currently leading MLS with 13 goals this season, is set to leave the Fire and join CF Monterrey in Liga MX.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this recap.