Preston Plambeck, Luis Suárez help Inter Miami beat Fire 3-2 without Lionel Messi

MIAMI (AP) — Preston Plambeck scored his first career goal in MLS in the 87th minute, Luis Suárez scored two goals, and Inter Miami beat Chicago 3-2 on Wednesday night to spoil Robert Lewandowski's debut for the Fire.

Miami (10-2-4) has won five straight.

Suárez scored three goals, his first hat trick in MLS since 2024, in Miami's last game before the World Cup break, a 6-4 win over Philadelphia.

Suárez had his shot from the center of the area parried by goalkeeper Chris Brady but Plambeck slammed home the rebound.

The Fire took a 1-0 lead on an own goal by goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo in the 18th minute. Miami defender Ian Fray played slow, rolling ball to Ríos Novo, but the ball slipped through the goalkeeper's legs as he whiffed on an attempted first-touch pass.

Suárez converted from the spot in the 27th to make it 1-1.

Puso Dithejane subbed on for Philip Zinckernagel in the 62nd minute and scored his first career goal in MLS on a first-touch shot from just inside the penalty area to tie it 2-2 in the 67th.

The 37-year-old Lewandowski signed with the Fire on June 29 and his first MLS appearance was delayed. The Fire had their game against Vancouver, which had originally been scheduled for Thursday, postponed until Oct. 6 due to air quality conditions in the Chicago area.

Lewandowski, a seven-time Bundesliga Golden Boot winner, scored a league-record 41 goals in the 2020-21 campaign with Bayern Munich.

Chicago (8-5-2) had its three-game win streak snapped.

Argentina internationals Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul did not play for Miami following their World Cup final defeat to Spain on Sunday.

Hugo Cuypers, who currently leads MLS with 13 goals this season, will reportedly be leaving the Fire to join CF Monterrey of LIGA MX.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

Chicago Fire forward Robert Lewandowski, left, competes for the ball against Inter Miami defender Ian Fray, right, during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Chicago Fire forward Robert Lewandowski runs with the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Inter Miami, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Chicago Fire forward Jonathan Bamba (19) heads the ball as goalkeeper Chris Brady (1) defends the goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Inter Miami, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez (9) scores on a penalty kick past Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez, center, reacts after scoring a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

NEW YORK (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu scored nine of her 29 points in the final minute, Jonquel Jones made the tiebreaking free throw with 3.4 seconds left and the New York Liberty rallied to beat the Chicago Sky 95-94 on Wednesday night.

The Liberty erased a 12-point deficit in the final five minutes. They trailed 91-85 with less than a minute to play, before Ionescu hit a contested 3-pointer from the corner falling out of bounds, made another 3-pointer and then converted a three-point play with 15.1 seconds left to tie the game at 94.

Courtney Vandersloot fed Kamilla Cardoso on a pick-and-roll but Cardoso missed the layup and fouled Jones, who made one of the free throws.

Breanna Stewart had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Liberty (15-12). Jones added 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Rebecca Allen scored 12 points. Ionescu was 8 of 11 from the field with five 3-pointers and 8 of 8 from the foul line.

Sydney Taylor had a career-high 31 points for the Sky (9-18). Vandersloot had 14 points and Cardoso scored 10.

Gabriela Jaquez and Taylor hit 3s to start a run that saw the Sky boost a one-point lead entering the fourth quarter to an 84-72 advantage when Taylor drilled another 3 with 5 1/2 minutes to play.

The Liberty bounced back with Stewart's basket and 3s from Jones and Ionescu, which she turned into a four-point play. When Stewart blocked Vandersloot's layup and made a layup at the other end, New York was back with 86-85 with 2:35 to play.

Sky: Home against Connecticut on July 30.

Liberty: At Los Angeles on Tuesday.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

New York Liberty's Rebecca Allen, left, defends Chicago Sky's Sydney Taylor during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Liberty's Pauline Astier (18) fights for control of the ball with Chicago Sky's Kamilla Cardoso (10) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Liberty's Han Xu (21) celebrates with teammates Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart (30) and Marine Fauthoux (4) after scoring during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Chicago Sky Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu (20) reacts after making a three-point shot during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Chicago Sky Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)