Will Herons miss suspended striker Luis Suarez in must-win match against Nashville?

Strikers' immaturity could doom Inter Miami's playoff hopes

Biting, choking, kicking, spitting...iconic striker Luis Suarez will be remembered as much for his loutish behavior on the pitch as he will for his more than 800 goal contributions across 21 seasons. And, if Inter Miami loses Saturday, Herons fans could remember Suarez as the player whose dirty play ended Los Garzas' 2025 season.

The Major League Soccer disciplinary committee on Wednesday issued Suarez an undisclosed fine and one-game suspension for kicking Nashville SC defender Andy Najar during Nashville's 2-1, series-tying win Saturday at Geodis Park. He'll serve his suspension in Saturday's series-deciding Game 3 against the Herons' most consequential rivals. For more information about the incident and Suarez' history of poor sportsmanship, see Miami Herald reporter Michelle Kaufman's story.

OK, I don't think Suarez is so important to the Pink & Black that his absence guarantees a Nashville win -- he's a 38-year-old striker with bad knees who embellishes every bump or shove he receives and whines incessantly to the referee. But love or loathe him, Suarez makes Inter Miami a better team when he's on the pitch. While some fans complain about his perceived lack of production in 2025, the Uruguayan legend contributed 34 goal contributions -- 17 goals and 17 assists -- across all competitions, compared to 25 goals and 12 assists in 2024. And the value of his experience and soccer instincts, which help him create time and space for teammates in attack and establish smart positioning on defense, can't be overestimated.

Who will replace Suarez in the starting 11?

Suarez has been Inter Miami's first-choice striker since arriving in South Florida, and attacking depth has been a concern throughout the current campaign. Herons coach Javier Mascherano could turn to one of his two 19-year-old South American forwards, Ecuadorian Allen Obando (one goal in seven first team appearances) or Argentinian Mateo Silvetti (no goals for Inter Miami, but two goals and an assist for Newell's Old Boys and three for the Argentina U20 team at the FIFA U20 World Cup). Or he could tinker with his attacking midfielders hoping to replace Suarez' playmaking ability.

Tadeo Allende, 26, also from Argentina, has 18 goals and an assist across all competitions, but he hasn't shown the technical ability in tight spaces to thrive in front of goal; he's much more effective in transition, when he can use his speed. Baltasar Rodriguez and Telasco Segovia are much better with the ball at their feet but prefer operating in the same space, from the left into the center.

I think Allende could move to the striker's role, with Segovia playing on the left and Rodriguez in the middle and Messi moving to the right. The midfield trio is skilled enough to be interchangeable, with Allende playing "pick-and-roll" soccer, making himself available at the top of the box to receive and distribute passes or flash to the goal to finish balls into the area.

Even without Suarez, Inter Miami has more than enough talent to beat the gritty Tennesseans if they focus on playing Nashville and not their own demons. The Herons suffered the greatest upset in MLS Cup playoff history last year, when Atlanta United -- which barely finished ninth to squeak into the playoffs "play-in" match -- won games two and three of their first-round series against one of the best regular-season teams in MLS history (Miami collected a single-season record 74 points to win the Supporters' Shield). And despite their public comments to the contrary, the Herons must feel the pressure of failing to win a single trophy in 2025 -- the MLS Cup is the last prize available to them.

If Inter Miami fails Saturday, Luis Suarez must shoulder some of the blame. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. ET Saturday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.