Luis Suarez gets MLS campaign off the mark as Inter Miami defeat Real Salt Lake

[p]Fans who had paid eye-watering ticket prices averaging more than $450 to see [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Messi[/a] play his first match in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-salt-lake/W0ealpQl/"]Salt Lake[/a] City were [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/inter-miami-0AheRyBg/real-salt-lake-W0ealpQl/?mid=Aoxjv4WF"]treated to a full 90 minutes from the Argentine[/a].[/p][p]Messi created several chances but couldn't get past Brazilian goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rafael-cabral/KCOJxFQ2/"]Rafael Cabral[/a] and had to rely on fellow Argentine [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-paul-rodrigo/AZ6TTjDC/"]Rodrigo De Paul[/a] to break the deadlock in the 82nd minute.[/p][p]De Paul's blast following a corner eluded the grasp of Cabral and slipped into the top-right corner.[/p][p]Second-half substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/suarez-luis/fV4fAvB8/"]Suarez[/a] sealed the victory a minute later when he latched on to German Berterame's header and found the net with a left-foot strike.[/p][p][b]"I think we played a great first half,"[/b] De Paul told Apple TV after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter-miami/0AheRyBg/"]Miami[/a]'s second straight victory under interim coach Guillermo Hoyos.[/p][p][b]"It was a beautiful goal, and as long as it helps the team, that's great,"[/b] he added after helping to end Salt Lake's six-match unbeaten run.[/p][embed guid="710d3f28-1b55-4a9d-9adc-7d50d7eec78b" url="https://x.com/InterMiamiCF/status/2047166258882466067" social-type="twitter" /][p]Uruguayan Suarez, the 39-year-old former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] attacker, got off the mark for 2026 with his 44th goal in 93 matches for Miami.[/p][p]According to TickPick, Wednesday's match was the "most expensive MLS game of the season" with the average ticket price soaring to $468.[/p][p]Messi's side are unbeaten since an opening-day 3-0 defeat to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/son-heung-min/Mgg9oPeM/"]Son Heung-min[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-fc/txUJt9AR/"]Los Angeles FC[/a].[/p][p]They remain second in the Eastern Conference with 18 points, one behind [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nashville-sc/84yIDQMe/"]Nashville[/a], who have a game in hand.[/p]