Daijiworld Media Network- Miami

Miami, Aug 7: Veteran striker Luis Suarez turned back the clock with a goal and two assists, powering Inter Miami to a convincing 3-1 victory over Mexico’s Pumas in their Leagues Cup group stage encounter on Thursday morning. The win confirmed Miami's place in the tournament's knockout stages — the first MLS side to do so.

Playing without star forward Lionel Messi, who is nursing a minor muscle injury to his right leg, Inter Miami relied on Suarez to step up — and he did just that. Messi, who sustained the injury in the opening minutes of the match against Necaxa, watched the game from a suite at Chase Stadium.

Despite falling behind in the 34th minute to a goal by Pumas' Jorge Ruvalcaba, Inter Miami quickly regrouped. Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul scored the equaliser just before half-time, netting his first goal for the club off a slick assist from Suarez in the 45th minute. De Paul, who joined MLS to reunite with national teammate Messi, has already made a strong impact with two assists in the previous game against Necaxa.

Suarez gave Inter Miami the lead in the 59th minute, calmly converting a penalty after a handball by Pumas defender José Caicedo. It marked Suarez’s first goal since his strike against Palmeiras in the Club World Cup on June 23.

The former Barcelona and Liverpool forward continued his stellar display by assisting substitute Tadeo Allende in the 69th minute, sealing the win with Miami’s third goal of the night.

Inter Miami now sits atop the Leagues Cup standings with eight points, confidently marching into the knockout rounds as title contenders.