Tom Brady turns out for Inter Miami as Luis Suárez ensures playoff place

It was an exciting evening at Chase Stadium on Saturday as Inter Miami punched their ticket to the 2024 MLS playoffs with a solid 2-0 win over FC Cincinnati. Leading the charge was none other than Luis Suárez, who reminded everyone why he’s still one of the most lethal strikers in the world, at least with an appreciation of the level he now finds himself at. This win not only boosted Miami’s playoff hopes but also sent a clear message: they’re here to win.

Suárez at the double for Miami

Suárez didn’t waste any time getting the crowd on their feet. In fact, the fans were still settling into their seats when he struck. Less than 30 seconds into the match, Marcelo Weigandt, the Argentine fullback, sent a perfect cross into the box and the Uruguayan was there to blast it past Cincinnati’s goalkeeper Roman Celentano. The stadium erupted, and you could feel the energy shift - this was going to be Miami’s night.

And Suárez wasn’t done. Just six minutes later, he took advantage of a defensive blunder by Cincinnati. After a sloppy pass, the man known as El Pistolero and Matías Rojas exchanged a quick one-two that left him one-on-one with the keeper. He finished with the ease of a veteran, doubling Miami’s lead and putting them firmly in control. The crowd went wild again, and thoughts turned to whether a calculator may be required.

Avilés sees red for Miami

But just when it seemed like everything was going Miami’s way, they hit a bump. Right before halftime, 20-year-old defender Tomás Avilés saw red after picking up his second yellow card. The first one was early in the match, and by the 42nd minute, another foul saw him sent off. Suddenly, Miami had to rethink their game plan, knowing they’d be down a man for the entire second half.

Cincinnati smelled blood and threw everything they had at Miami after the break. They brought on heavy hitters like Luciano Acosta and Sergio Santos, hoping to capitalise on their man advantage. But Gerardo Martino had his team well-drilled. Despite being a man down, Miami held their ground.

This win couldn’t have come at a better time. Just days ago, Miami suffered a painful exit from the Leagues Cup, where they blew a similar lead against Columbus Crew. But here they proved they’ve got the resilience to bounce back, and with Lionel Messi’s return just around the corner, the excitement in Miami is reaching fever pitch.

Why did Luis Suárez have ‘Fuerza Juan’ on his shirt?

After scoring, fans saw the Uruguayan star lift up his Miami jersey to reveal the message ‘Fuerza Juan’ on his undershirt. This was a tribute of support to Juan Izquierdo, the compatriot who plays for Nacional. The defender suffered an irregular heartbeat during the match against São Paulo in the Copa Libertadores on Friday and was taken to hospital.

Brady appears for Miami

And speaking of excitement of sporting icons, there was another superstar in the building – none other than Tom Brady. The NFL legend was spotted in the stands, enjoying the game like any other fan. Brady’s become a regular at Inter Miami games, thanks to his close friendship with David Beckham, the club’s president. At halftime, Beckham even presented Brady with an Inter Miami jersey, number 12, of course – a nod to Brady’s iconic NFL number.

But Brady’s connection to soccer goes beyond just being a fan. Last year, he became a minority owner of Birmingham City Football Club in England. It seems like the soccer bug has bitten Brady hard, and he’s all in.

As Miami now heads into the playoffs, there’s a buzz around the team that’s impossible to ignore. With Suárez in form, Messi’s return imminent, and the support of fans – including those celebrity followers – Miami’s dreams of lifting the MLS Cup are very much alive.