Suarez penalty pair sends Herons to Leagues Cup semis

Inter Miami CF 2-1 Tigres UNL

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL–A pair of penalty kicks from Luis Suarez were enough to see Inter Miami past Tigres of Liga MX, 2-1, at Chase Stadium. The Herons will now face Orlando City, who defeated Toluca on penalties, in the Leagues Cup semifinals in Fort Lauderdale next Wednesday (8:30pm ET, Apple TV/FS1).

An ongoing muscular injury kept Lionel Messi out of the lineup on Wednesday. The first penalty came in the 20th minute after Javier Aquino handled a ball in the box as Suarez prepared to cross the ball. Suarez converted the spot kick to put the Herons ahead.

Miami had several chances to add to that lead, but failed to take advantage of them. Indeed, in the 67th minute, Tigres would validate the law of missed chances as Angel Correa snuck one past Oscar Ustari to level matters.

The match seemed destined to end in a penalty shootout until VAR instructed referee Mario Escobar to monitor. The monitor would show Javier Aquino handling the ball in the box and Escobar would point to the penalty spot. Suarez converted the spot kick in the 89th minute to give Miami the lead, what would be for good.

Tigres had a chance for an equalizer in stoppage time, but Ivan Lopez’s header would go off the left post, bound on the goal line, and hit the right post and stay out. The Herons would hold on for the victory.

Next up in the league for Inter Miami will be a trip to DC United on Saturday at 7:30pm ET (Apple TV).

Photos by Edwin Gomez