Luis Suárez Penalty Gives Inter Miami Sixth Straight Win, 1-0 at CF Montréal

Luis Suárez stood over the penalty spot at Stade Saputo with the whole night hanging on one kick, and with a teammate on his mind. Eleven minutes earlier, Germán Berterame had been fouled in the box and taken off the field in an ambulance. Suárez sent a soft shot down the middle, then held up Berterame's No. 19 jersey in tribute, according to MLSsoccer.com.

That 81st-minute penalty was the only goal as Inter Miami CF beat CF Montréal 1-0 on Saturday night. It was Miami's sixth straight win, a night that also included Casemiro's debut, and one that was overshadowed by concern for Berterame.

Pressure Without the Punchline

Miami lined up with Suárez and Berterame up top, Silvetti and Yannick Bright on the flanks and Casemiro alongside Segovia in the middle. It had plenty of the ball and plenty of shots, but the first half kept ending in the same place: a Montréal shin, a Montréal head or the woodwork. Mateo Silvetti had three efforts blocked before halftime and fired a fourth over the bar in the 35th minute. Casemiro, starting in midfield, headed a Telasco Segovia corner delivery too high in the 16th minute and slipped Silvetti through for an early chance that was also blocked.

Montréal had the better looks at goal early. Daniel Ríos missed from very close range in the fifth minute after a Prince Owusu cross on the break, and in the 13th minute Rocco Ríos Novo made a save on Hennadii Synchuk, again from very close range. Efraín Morales headed a corner wide in the 19th.

The closest Miami came before the break was Segovia, whose shot from outside the box in the 41st minute cracked off the crossbar. It was 0-0 at halftime.

A Long Stoppage, Then the Breakthrough

The second half opened end to end. Suárez fired high and wide in the 49th minute, Synchuk sent a shot just wide the other way a minute later, and Owusu headed over in the 51st. Berterame just missed to the left in the 53rd. Ríos Novo stopped Synchuk again in the 65th minute, and Sébastian Breza saved a Segovia shot from distance in the 68th.

Then, in the 70th minute, Morales fouled Berterame in the penalty area. The Associated Press reported that Berterame banged heads with Morales, was knocked unconscious and was taken away in an ambulance. Play was stopped for about nine minutes, and Preston Plambeck replaced him in the 80th minute. MLSsoccer.com said Berterame, acquired from CF Monterrey in January, has seven goals and five assists in his debut MLS season.

A minute later, Suárez converted from the spot. Thirteen minutes of stoppage time followed, and Montréal got only one shot away in it, a long-range Owusu effort that missed to the left in the ninth added minute. Miami held on.

After the match, interim coach Guillermo Hoyos offered an update on his forward. "Berterame is conscious and is doing well," Hoyos said in Spanish, according to the AP. "The blow was very strong but he is recovering." MLSsoccer.com later reported that Inter Miami confirmed Berterame was returning home to begin his recovery.

The Men Who Shaped It

Luis Suárez scored his ninth goal of the regular season and his sixth in the last three matches, according to Inter Miami and the AP. MLSsoccer.com noted it was his seventh straight game with at least one goal contribution. He also earned a bench spot on MLSsoccer.com's Team of the Matchday. Cold-blooded from the spot, emotional afterward.

Rocco Ríos Novo made two saves, both on Synchuk, and the AP said it was his second clean sheet of the season in his third start.

Casemiro made his MLS debut and went the full match, with two shots of his own, including a free kick from more than 35 yards in the 60th minute. MLSsoccer.com noted the Brazilian signed with Miami on Wednesday, so this was not exactly a long onboarding process.

Telasco Segovia was Miami's most dangerous midfielder, hitting the bar and forcing Breza's only save among his four shots.

Hennadii Synchuk was Montréal's sharpest attacker, accounting for both of the hosts' shots on goal and nearly scoring again in the 50th minute.

The Turning Point

The 70th-minute foul on Berterame. Until then, Miami had peppered Montréal without a breakthrough, and the hosts had held firm through 18 Miami attempts, eight of them blocked. The penalty gave Miami the opening it could not find in open play, and Suárez made sure it counted.

Stats That Matter

• Shots: Inter Miami 20, Montréal 8.
• Shots on goal: 2 apiece.
• Blocked shots: Montréal blocked 9 Inter Miami attempts.
• Possession: Inter Miami 57 percent, Montréal 43 percent.
• Fouls: Inter Miami 14, Montréal 7.

What It Means

Inter Miami improved to 11-4-2 with 37 points, and MLSsoccer.com said the win moved Miami within two points of Supporters' Shield leaders Nashville SC. The AP noted Miami has now beaten Montréal three straight times. Lionel Messi was still not back from the World Cup break, according to MLSsoccer.com, yet Miami keeps finding ways to win. The Herons host the Columbus Crew at Nu Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 1.

Montréal fell to 4-3-10 with 15 points and has not scored in three matches since the World Cup break: a 0-0 draw with Toronto FC, a 1-0 loss at Nashville and this 1-0 defeat. The New England Revolution visit Stade Saputo on Aug. 1.

The Closing Take

On paper, this was a routine result for the hottest team in the East: a sixth straight win, a late penalty and a debut for a decorated new midfielder. But the lasting image will be Suárez lifting a teammate's jersey after scoring. On a night when the result came second, Miami left Montréal with three points and encouraging words about Berterame.

Stats from ESPN's match data. Postgame quotes as reported by The Associated Press. Additional details from Inter Miami CF, CF Montréal and MLSsoccer.com.