Inter Miami secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tigres UANL on Wednesday night to advance to the semifinals of the Leagues Cup, with veteran striker Luis Suárez delivering a decisive brace in Lionel Messi’s absence.
With Messi ruled out due to a minor muscle injury, all eyes were on Suárez to lead the attack, and the Uruguayan striker delivered when it mattered most. His first goal came in the 20th minute from the penalty spot after Tigres defender Javier Aquino was penalized for handball, putting Miami in front early.
Tigres responded with determination after the break, creating sustained pressure before eventually finding an equalizer. In the 67th minute, Ángel Correa broke free of Miami’s defense and calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari to level the score at 1-1, setting up a tense finish.
Inter Miami’s night became even more dramatic when head coach Javier Mascherano was shown a red card at halftime for protesting the referee’s decision on added time. The dismissal forced him to watch the second half from the stands, leaving his assistants to manage the game from the touchline.
Despite the setback, Suárez rose to the occasion once again. In the 78th minute, Miami earned another penalty after a foul inside the box, and the former Barcelona striker made no mistake from 12 yards, restoring the lead and ultimately securing the win for his side.
