Inter Miami Faces Tough Playoff Test vs. Nashville SC Without Luis Suarez
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Inter Miami will face a daunting task in the Eastern Conference semifinals without suspended striker Luis Suarez against Nashville SC on Saturday night. Suarez was banned for one match after a controversy surrounding his kick on Nashville defender Andy Najar in their 2-1 loss in Game 2 last weekend. Despite an in-game replay review, the MLS Disciplinary Committee decided to suspend Suarez, a decision Inter Miami has accepted but expressed concern about the precedent set. Miami coach Javier Mascherano described the league's decision as 'very strange' and said Suarez had appealed the ban but was denied. The club is now relying on star player Lionel Messi to lead them to a comeback against Nashville, who are seeking to avoid a catastrophic exit. Nashville has had a strong season, with Sam Surridge finishing tied for second in the Golden Boot tally with 24 goals, and the team already winning the 2025 U.S. Open Cup. Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis acknowledged the pressure on his team to perform, saying, 'I think there is a lot of pressure on to be successful with how much money they've spent to bring players in.' The Coyotes will look to capitalize on Inter Miami's loss of Suarez and make a statement in the series. With Messi's commitment to three more seasons in South Florida, the future of Suarez in Miami beyond this season remains uncertain.
