SUAREZ FIRES INTER MIAMI PAST MONTREAL IN CASEMIRO'S DEBUT

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By: Fasasi Hammad

Inter Miami secured a 1-0 victory over CF Montréal on Saturday, with Luis Suárez scoring the decisive goal in Casemiro’s Major League Soccer debut, while Lionel Messi remained unavailable following his FIFA World Cup campaign.

Suárez converted a penalty in the 81st minute after Miami forward Germán Berterame suffered a serious head injury in a collision with Montréal defender Efraín Morales.

Berterame fell to the ground unconscious after the aerial challenge, prompting players from both teams to immediately call for medical assistance. Following lengthy treatment on the pitch, he was taken away in an ambulance.

Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos later confirmed that the Mexican international was conscious and in stable condition.

“He is OK and conscious. His family has been informed. It was a very desperate situation,” Hoyos said.

Suárez celebrated his goal by holding up Berterame’s jersey in tribute to his injured teammate.

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The strike extended the Uruguayan’s impressive run to six goals in his last three matches, taking his tally for the season to nine.

Casemiro, who joined Inter Miami from Manchester United earlier this week, made an encouraging debut. The 34-year-old Brazilian, a five-time UEFA Champions League winner with Real Madrid, dictated play in midfield despite both sides struggling to convert their chances.

Messi and fellow Argentina international Rodrigo De Paul missed their second consecutive MLS match after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup final last weekend.

Major League Soccer also confirmed on Saturday that Messi will not be required to feature in next week’s All-Star Game.

The victory was Inter Miami’s sixth consecutive league win and second since the MLS resumed after the World Cup, moving the club to within two points of Eastern Conference leaders Nashville, who suffered a 1-0 defeat to Orlando City.

Elsewhere, Chicago Fire fell 3-1 to New York City FC at Yankee Stadium, leaving new signing Robert Lewandowski still searching for his first victory since joining the club from Barcelona.

Agustín Ojeda, Nicolás Fernández and Malachi Jones scored for New York City FC, while Joel Waterman netted Chicago Fire’s consolation goal.