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Luis Suarez Scores First Goal for Inter Miami After VAR Assist Against Al-Hilal

Luis Suarez scored the first goal of his Inter Miami career in Monday's pre-season clash with Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. The goal needed an assist from the VAR.

Robert Summerscales

Luis Suarez Scores First Goal for Inter Miami After VAR Assist Against Al-Hilal
Luis Suarez Scores First Goal for Inter Miami After VAR Assist Against Al-Hilal /

Luis Suarez scored the first goal of his Inter Miami career during Monday's pre-season clash with Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

The Uruguayan striker had drawn a blank on his Miami debut in a 0-0 tie with the El Salvador national team, before also failing to score in a 1-0 defeat by FC Dallas.

But he got off the mark for his new team 34 minutes into the opening game of the 2024 Riyadh Season Cup.

Suarez found the net from a close-range tap-in moments after Jordi Alba had picked out Julian Gressel with an excellent through-pass.

The goal was initially disallowed for offside - much to the disgust of Suarez, who led the Miami protests before the VAR intervened.

Replays eventually showed that, although Suarez had been stood in an offside position when the ball was played in his direction, the ball had been kicked by Al-Hilal defender Mohammed Jahfali, rather than by Miami midfielder Gressel.

Luis Suarez pictured (right) scoring his first goal for Inter Miami during a pre-season game against Al-Hilal in January 2024
Luis Suarez pictured (right) scoring his first goal for Inter Miami during a pre-season game against Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia on Monday :: X.com/MLS

Suarez's strike came after goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic and Abdullah Al-Hamdan had fired Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal into an early 2-0 advantage.

Michael then restored Al-Hilal's two-goal lead just before half-time.

But Miami performed much better after the interval and were level at 3-3 by the 55th minute.

Lionel Messi scored his first goal of 2024 by converting a penalty kick before David Ruiz netted a fabulous equalizer 54 seconds later.

Messi was substituted off in the 88th minute.

Less than 60 seconds later, former Barcelona winger Malcom scored the seventh goal of the game to seal a 4-3 victory for Al-Hilal.

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Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.