Luis Suarez Shine as Inter Miami March to Leagues Cup Semi-Final with 2-1 Win Over Tigres
Na one kain sweet victory wey Inter Miami don grab for di Leagues Cup quarter-final as dem beat Tigres UANL 2-1 on Wednesday night, August 20, 2025, for Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale.
Di hero of di night na Luis Suarez, di Uruguayan striker wey show say e still get di fire for im leg, even at 38 years old.
Even with Lionel Messi wey no play because of small injury, Suarez step up like true oga, carry di team on im back, and make sure dem advance to di semi-final.
Dis na wetin we go yarn about today—how Suarez brilliance light up di pitch and how Inter Miami dey keep di dream alive to win di Leagues Cup wey dem first win for 2023.
From di moment di match start, e clear say Suarez no come to play small. Di game no dey produce plenty chances, but Suarez, with im experience and cool head, know how to make di difference.
For di 20th minute, Tigres defender Javier Aquino make mistake as e hand touch ball inside di box while e dey try block cross from Jordi Alba. Referee no waste time, point to di penalty spot, and na Suarez step up.
With di kind confidence wey only a veteran fit get, e slot di ball past Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman, give Inter Miami 1-0 lead. Di stadium erupt, and Suarez just dey calm, like say e don do dis thing tire.
Tigres no gree back down sha. Dem fight hard, and for di 67th minute, Angel Correa, another Argentine wey sabi ball, slice through Inter Miami defense like hot knife through butter, score equalizer wey make e look like di game fit go any side.
Di tension high, and to make matters worse, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano collect red card for halftime because e dey argue with referee about injury time wey dem add.
E dey watch from di stands, even try to dey give instructions through phone, wey Leagues Cup rules no gree. Na assistant coach Javier Morales take over, but di real magic na Suarez bring am.
For di 87th minute, luck shine on Inter Miami again. Aquino, di same Tigres defender, go commit another handball inside di box, and VAR confirm am. Suarez, wey no dey miss from penalty spot, step up again.
Dis time, e change direction, send Guzman di wrong way, and fire di ball to di left corner. 2-1! Di crowd go wild, and Suarez just dey there, cool as cucumber, like say na normal day job.
Tigres try to fight back, and dem almost equalize when Edgar Lopez header hit both posts for stoppage time, but di ball no gree enter. Inter Miami hold on tight, and di final whistle blow with dem as winners.
Suarez performance no be just about di goals. E dey everywhere on di pitch, dey spray passes like im days for Barcelona, and even calm things down when tempers flare between im teammate Rodrigo De Paul and Tigres’ Fernando Gorriaran.
“Di game tough well-well because dem play good,” Suarez talk after di match. “Every day, I just dey try my best to help di team win.”
And e no just talk am—e show am. Without Messi, who dey nurse small muscle injury from early August, Suarez take up di leadership role and prove say e still be world-class striker.
Dis win no be small thing. Inter Miami don book semi-final clash with Orlando City, wey beat Toluca 6-5 on penalties, thanks to goalkeeper Pedro Gallese wey save two penalties and score di winning one himself.
Orlando no be small team—dem don beat Inter Miami 4-1 for MLS dis month when Messi no play—so Suarez and im boys go need bring their A-game again.
Di Leagues Cup no be just about trophy; di winner and runner-up, plus di third-place team, go qualify for di CONCACAF Champions Cup, with di champion getting direct entry to di round of 16.
Inter Miami journey for dis Leagues Cup don show say dem no dey rely on just one star. Suarez, with im two penalties, don remind everybody say e still get plenty to offer. Im composure, experience, and knack for big moments na wetin carry di team through against Tigres.
As dem dey prepare for di semi-final, fans dey hope say Suarez go continue to shine, whether Messi dey or not.
For now, di Uruguayan Pistolero don shoot Inter Miami closer to another Leagues Cup title, and e no look like e go stop anytime soon.