FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Defender Jordi Alba scored two minutes after the Chicago Fire pulled even in the second half to rally Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory on Saturday night.
Rookie Matías Rojas scored for a fourth time this season to give Inter Miami (16-4-5) a 1-0 lead in the 6th minute. Robert Taylor picked up his fourth assist and 20-year-old defender Tomás Avilés snagged his first of the season and the second of his two-year career on the goal. It was the seventh start and 10th appearance of the campaign for Rojas.
The Fire (6-12-7) trailed until defender Rafael Czichos used Gastón Giménez’s third assist of the season in the 75th minute to score his first goal this season and the sixth in his three years in the league.
The tie lasted until Alba scored unassisted with a left-footed shot from the left side of the box in the 77th. It was the fourth goal this season for Alba and his fifth in 22 starts and 27 appearances in his two seasons with the club.
Drake Callender finished with four saves in goal for Inter Miami. Chris Brady stopped seven shots for the Fire. Callender needed to make just one save to keep the Fire off the scoreboard in the first half. Brady had four saves by halftime to keep the Fire close.
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi did not play Saturday after injuring a ligament in his right ankle during Argentina’s win over Colombia in the Copa America final on July 14. He was shown in street clothes wearing a walking boot.
The Fire said Friday they will offer vouchers for fans if Messi doesn’t play for Inter Miami when the teams meet at Soldier Field on Aug. 31.
The Fire knocked FC Cincinnati out of the top spot in the Supporters’ Shield race with a 1-0 road victory on Wednesday.
Inter Miami is 2-4-1 all-time versus the Fire.
The league goes on a month-long hiatus for the Leagues Cup. Inter Miami, which leads the league with 53 points at the break, will host FC Cincinnati on Aug. 24 when play resumes. The Fire will travel to play New York City FC on Aug. 24.
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