Inter Miami secured a place in the 2024 Major League Soccer playoffs following a 2-0 victory against FC Cincinnati on Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with both goals coming from Luis Suárez.
The match saw Miami navigating through difficulties, including a red card issued to Tomás “Toto” Avilés late in the first half at Chase Stadium, yet they managed to maintain their advantage in the second half against the second-placed Cincinnati team.
Lionel Messi was again absent from the field, as he watched from the stands alongside NFL legend Tom Brady. Messi has participated in only 12 of Miami’s 26 MLS games this season as he continues to recover from an ankle ligament injury sustained during Argentina’s Copa América triumph over Colombia on July 14.
Coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino stated on Friday that he expects Messi to return before the regular season concludes.
Suárez’s impressive performance helped solidify Inter Miami’s playoff berth. This marks the Herons’ first return to the postseason since 2022, after failing to qualify the previous year, finishing 14th in the Eastern Conference with just 34 points across 34 games.
The top seven teams from each conference automatically qualify for the first round of the playoffs, which will commence on October 26. The playoffs consist of a best-of-three series, with the higher seed hosting the first match, the second match played away, and a third match held at the higher seed’s venue if necessary.
Inter Miami is guaranteed to host at least one playoff game at Chase Stadium. Following the opening round, there will be a hiatus to accommodate the FIFA international window in November, with the playoffs resuming on November 23 for the conference semifinals. The MLS Cup is scheduled for December 7 at the venue of the higher-ranked team.
Currently, Inter Miami leads the Eastern Conference with 56 points from 26 games, extending their lead over Cincinnati to eight points. With eight regular-season matches remaining, Miami is also in contention for the 2024 Supporters’ Shield and has the opportunity to achieve a new team points record.