Inter Miami survived a comical own goal by goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo to beat Chicago Fire 3-2 in Major League Soccer, in a match that also saw Robert Lewandowski make an underwhelming debut for his new club.
The Argentine keeper’s mistake, conceding a bizarre own goal from a routine back-pass, went viral on social media and overshadowed much of the early action, before Luis Suarez dragged Miami back into the contest with a decisive brace.
The match was played in the early hours of Thursday, with Inter Miami again without captain Lionel Messi, who was rested following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup.
Viral blunder stuns Miami defence
The game’s most talked-about moment came in the 18th minute, when Inter Miami were attempting to build from the back.
Under no real pressure, Rios Novo failed to control a simple pass from a team-mate. The ball rolled tamely past him and into the net, gifting Chicago Fire the opening goal and sparking a wave of ridicule online.
Clips of the incident spread rapidly across social media platforms, with many users mocking the keeper for one of the softest goals of the season. The error briefly threatened to derail Miami’s bid to keep pace at the top end of the league table.
Despite the shock of the mistake, Inter Miami regrouped, with Suarez at the heart of their response.
Suarez delivers as Messi rests
With Messi absent for rest after the World Cup, responsibility in attack again fell on Suarez – and the Uruguayan delivered.
Suarez scored twice as Inter Miami overturned the early deficit to claim a 3-2 victory. His goals proved decisive in a tight encounter, underlining his continued importance to the Florida side’s frontline in Messi’s absence.
The win lifted Inter Miami to 34 points, moving them into second place in the standings. The result maintains their push near the top of the table and eases the pressure created by Rios Novo’s high-profile error.
Lewandowski draws a blank in first Fire outing
On the opposite side, there was significant attention on Chicago’s new signing Robert Lewandowski, who recently joined the Fire after leaving Barcelona.
The Polish striker started the match and led the line from kick-off but was unable to make a telling impact. He was substituted in the 63rd minute having failed to score or provide an assist in his first appearance for the club.
Chicago Fire, who had hoped Lewandowski’s arrival would give them a clinical edge in attack, were left to rue missed opportunities as they slipped to defeat despite Miami’s early gift.
The loss leaves Chicago on 26 points in third place, with a game in hand. While they remain within reach of the leading pack, the combination of Rios Novo’s viral own goal and Lewandowski’s quiet debut ensured the night will be remembered more for individual moments than for the result itself.
