Inter Miami wins 2-0 at Salt Lake after late-game golazos from De Paul, Suarez
Ticket prices spiked to record highs for Inter Miami’s road game Wednesday against Real Salt Lake, just a few days after a crowd of 75,824, the second largest in MLS history, saw Lionel Messi score twice in a win over the Colorado Rapids at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
Fans out west don’t get many opportunities to see their teams play against the Argentine legend, so they packed the two stadiums and were willing to pay top dollar.
Wednesday’s game at 21,000-seat America First Field was the most expensive MLS game of the season, according to TickPick, with an average purchase price of $468.
The fans got quite a show with end-to-end action, but did not get to see Messi score. Instead, it was his two best friends on the team, Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez, who blasted the ball into the back of the net late in the second half to give Miami a 2-0 victory.
De Paul scored a golazo at the 82-minute mark, hitting the far top corner on a powerful shot off a Telasco Segovia corner kick. Then, two minutes later, just after coming off the bench, 39-year-old Suarez doubled the lead with a decisive, powerful volley to the same corner. Both players were swarmed by teammates, as the team will head home with six points from two games at altitude.
“I had a good feeling, kicked the ball, and luckily was able to help the team,” De Paul told Apple TV on the field after the game. “El Gordo [’Chubby’, his nickname for Suarez] is a legend, and the way he came in was a lesson in humility because it is difficult for a historic player of his level to be on the bench. [Saturday] he didn’t get to play, but he had a great week, super focused, we laughed a lot and he deserved that.”
Inter Miami, won its second game in a row under new interim coach Guillermo Hoyos, who last week replaced Javier Mascherano after his unexpected resignation after leading the team to its first MLS Cup title in December. Miami extended its unbeaten streak to eight games and sits in second place in the Eastern Conference with 18 points, one point behind leader Nashville SC.
Hoyos gave all the credit to his players, thanked them for their effort and for “expressing themselves” on the field, saying he enjoys watching them from the sideline as much as any fan.
Asked if pairing strikers Suarez and German Berterame, as he did in the final 15 minutes Wednesday, is an option in the future, Hoyos said: “Yes, obviously. Luis is not just an option. He is a player with more than 600 goals. Between them he and Leo [Messi] have scored 1,500-something goals. That is not normal. You don’t see that anywhere. People come out to see their magic. It’s extraordinary.”
Miami started the night disjointed and nearly gave up two quick goals. Sergi Solans’ header from close range missed just left. A few minutes later, Morgan Guilavogui appeared to score, but his goal was disallowed when Solans was called for offside.
The men in pink settled down and created plenty of scoring chances. Messi had three shots blocked. De Paul had one blocked. A Berterame header sailed high and a Gonzalo Lujan shot from the center of the box was blocked just before intermission.
Salt Lake fans booed Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair every time he touched the ball, leftover bad blood from his alleged antics during a penalty kick shootout during the 2024 playoffs against his former team Minnesota United.
The score remained deadlocked at 0-0 at halftime. Possession was about even at 50 percent. Miami had 10 shot attempts compared to two for Salt Lake, but could not manage to finish. That all changed in the final 15 minutes.
Inter Miami midfielder Yannick Bright missed the game while serving a red card suspension and Mateo Silvetti sat out with a hamstring injury.
They were replaced by Noah Allen and Tadeo Allende. The rest of Miami’s starters were goalkeeper St. Clair, defender Lujan, center back Maxi Falcon, right back Facundo Mura, center back Micael, midfielder De Paul, midfielder Segovia, captain Messi and striker Berterame.
Ian Fray replaced Allen at the 72-minute mark and Suarez entered the game in the 75th minute in place of Allende. Segovia was issued a yellow card in the second half and he will miss the New England game Saturday due to card accumulation.
The team was highly motivated to pick up a second road win from this trip before heading home to Nu Stadium for Saturday’s game against the New England Revolution.
Inter Miami’s defense has been vulnerable all season and conceded two goals in each of its past four games. It managed to keep Salt Lake at bay Wednesday night, getting its first clean sheet since a 0-0 tie against Charlotte on March 14.
Center backs Micael and Falcon were aggressive all night, chasing down Salt Lake attackers. Allen also put in a good shift. Asked about the improved defense, Hoyos stressed that it was a collective effort.
Real Salt Lake, coached by former Miami Fusion and U.S. national team star Pablo Mastroeni, had gone six games unbeaten since losing its season opener to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 10:56 PM.