Just 17 and a half minutes into their return from the World Cup break, disaster struck for Inter Miami in the form of a shocking own goal against Robert Lewandowski’s Chicago Fire. Talk about a brutal welcome back! They were already without superstar Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul, making this an even tougher start to their first match since May 24.
The Unbelievable Blunder That Rocked Inter Miami
Picture this: Inter Miami’s defender Ian Fray makes a pass back to goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo. Seems routine, right? Wrong. This wasn’t routine. It was an ill-advised pass from Fray, especially with Robert Lewandowski already in the penalty area. Then, Ríos Novo, in his first playing time since March 14, completely whiffed on the ball! He looked distracted by the approaching striker, and the ball sailed right into the net for a howler of an own goal. This was a nightmare moment for Ríos Novo, who Miami opted to start over their usual keeper Dayne St. Clair, who had some rough performances before the break. But nothing, absolutely nothing, like this. It was one of the worst possible ways to resume their season.
Suárez Steps Up, Plambeck Delivers the Heroics
Good thing Miami has Luis Suárez, because he immediately went to work erasing that blunder. The man found the back of the net twice, first in the 27th minute and then again in the 51st. That kind of veteran leadership is exactly what you need when you’re staring down such an early deficit, especially with key players out. Chicago wasn’t going to roll over, though. Puso Dithejane tied the game later, setting the stage for some late-game drama. And who stepped up? Preston Plambeck, playing the hero in the 87th minute to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory for Inter Miami. What a finish!
Even with that wild start, the win keeps Inter Miami in a strong position. Their record now stands at 10-4-2, giving them 34 points and securing second place in the Eastern Conference. Only Nashville is ahead of them, sitting at 12-3-1. That’s a good spot to be, especially after nearly self-destructing on their return. They showed some serious grit, and they’ll need to keep that up to chase down Nashville.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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