Messi-less Miami downs DC United as super-sub Luis Suarez bags a brace in 3-1 victory that keeps the Herons atop MLS before the international break

With Lionel Messi out and Inter Miami playing a third game in a span of seven days, questions abounded about the quality and resilience of the team that coach Tata Martino would field on a trip to the nation’s capital.

But Messi’s absence was not a cause for concern for the Herons. Striker Luis Suárez’s substitute appearance was what made the difference, as the Uruguayan scored a brace in a 3-1 win over DC United.

Without Messi, the Herons relied heavily on the counterattack and it worked wonders for the team, which now leads the MLS with ten points from its first five games.

19,365 people came to Audi Field in the southwest corner of the city; many knew very well that they would not see the Argentine World Cup winner take the field.

But the Herons were able to put on a show anyway and thanks to their super sub, the league’s most talented team will go into the international break still at the top of the table.

Inter Miami’s record without Messi was poor coming into this match. In the previous seven games without Messi, the Herons went 0-3-4 with an overall minus-eight goals (10-18).

He played 50 minutes of the CONCACAF Champions Cup match between Miami and Nashville SC in midweek, scoring and setting up a goal. But coach Tata Martino replaced him after suffering what the coach called “muscular overload.”

The Argentine did not travel to the nation’s capital, to the dismay not only of thousands of pink-clad fans who flocked to Audi Field but also of Major League Soccer. One imagines losing consecutive league games isn’t what they had in mind when they signed him to the richest contract in MLS history.

Assistant coach Javier Morales tried to assure fans that the team cared about the game against the Screaming Eagles and would field the best team possible. “Saturday’s game is important for us, so we will try to play with the best players available,” Morales said before the game.

Fast forward to Saturday. The only member of the ‘Barcelona Four’ in the starting eleven was Sergio Busquets. Jordi Alba (who played 180 minutes in three days) and Luis Suárez (who played 86 minutes on Wednesday) sat on the bench.

DC United set the tone early in the game. After a series of chances, they finally converted in the 14th minute after an incisive pass found the feet of Jared Stroud. The 27-year-old fired a clean little shot to the body of Miami goaltender Drake Callender to take a 1-0 lead. That gave way to peculiar scenes of fans wearing Miami or Argentina uniforms celebrating the goal; I suppose the Messi effect generates interest, but not always loyalty.

DC’s chances in the first half limited Inter’s defense, but Miami’s strong counterattack led to the goal just before the half hour mark. After Inter’s Robert Taylor beat the ball on a counterattack, he crossed to striker Leonardo Campana, whose shot was saved by DC goalkeeper Alex Bono. But the ball was not cleared efficiently, leading to a second chance from Campana that beat the goalkeeper and tied the honors.

In Messi’s absence, fans crowded the railings, clamoring for the opportunity to take photographs of Alba and Suárez. People shouted their names and other shouts like ‘Viva Messi’ and ‘Visca Barça’. Security finally arrived and the crowd dispersed.

As Suárez ran to be replaced, a mix of cheers and boos emerged from the crowd. Both reactions became stronger when the Uruguayan entered the field to replace Taylor.

In the 71st minute, there were cries for a hand on DC’s offensive end. In the chaos of the moment, Miami counterattacked. Campana perfectly slid a ball to Suárez, who only needed to put a boot on it to enter the net. VAR analyzed the incident, but did not reverse Miami’s 2-1 lead.

In case there was any doubt about the result, Suárez bagged a double. A lazy pass from former Leeds United midfielder Mateusz Klich was intercepted by Miami’s Diego Gomez, who found the 36-year-old striker. Suárez shot and Bono put his hand on it, but it was not strong enough to keep it out of the net.

Martino said that the intensive use of Suárez in the previous match led to his substitute role: ‘We had discussed that he was going to play half an hour and he defined the match for us. For us he is a fundamental (player).’

As Suárez headed to the corner, the traveling Miami fans celebrated. They may not have seen the player they expected, but they saw a victory that showed that Miami doesn’t always need Messi to save the day.