FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Defender Jordi Alba scored two minutes after Chicago pulled even in the second half to rally Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over the Fire 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.
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Defender Jordi Alba scored two minutes after Chicago pulled even in the second half to rally Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over the Fire on Saturday night.
Inter Miami defender Ian Fray (17) heads the ball as Chicago Fire forward Georgios Koutsias (19) defends during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba (18) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba reacts after scoring during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Fire defender Arnaud Souquet, left, goes for the ball against Inter Miami forward Leo Afonso, right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino reacts during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Fire head coach Frank Klopas watches during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Inter Miami, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Fire defender Rafael Czichos (5) reacts after scoring a goal during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Inter Miami, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Fire defender Mauricio Pineda, left, defends against Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez, right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady (34) reacts during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Inter Miami, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Fire midfielder Brian Gutiérrez (17) falls as he goes for the ball against Inter Miami midfielder Yannick Bright, right, during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, left, waves as he walks off the field with team managing owner Jorge Mas after being honored for his 45 career trophies before an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, left, stands with team managing owner Jorge Mas as Messi is awarded for his 45 career trophies before an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami defends Jordi Alba, right, runs with the ball as Chicago Fire defender Wyatt Omsberg, left, defends during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami defender Marcelo Weigandt (57) falls as he goes for the ball against Chicago Fire defender Allan Arigoni (27) during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender, center top, makes a save during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi waves as he walks off the field after being honored for his 45 career trophies before an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami defender Julian Gressel, left, falls after coming into contact with Chicago Fire midfielder Kellyn Acosta (23) during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Children hold placards before a ceremony where Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi was honored for his 45 career trophies before an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez, right, goes for the ball as Chicago Fire defender Rafael Czichos (5) defends during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, left, waves to the crowd as he is awarded for his 45 career trophies before an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. At right is Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Fire defender Arnaud Souquet, right, controls the ball as Inter Miami midfielder Robert Taylor, left, defends during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami midfielder Matías Rojas, csecond from right, celebrates with forward Luis Suárez (9) and midfielder Federico Redondo (55) after scoring during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago (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 Chicago close.
Chicago 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.
AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, second from top right, watches from field-level seats during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Messi did not play due to an injury. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami defender Ian Fray (17) heads the ball as Chicago Fire forward Georgios Koutsias (19) defends during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba (18) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba reacts after scoring during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Fire defender Arnaud Souquet, left, goes for the ball against Inter Miami forward Leo Afonso, right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino reacts during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Fire head coach Frank Klopas watches during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Inter Miami, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Fire defender Rafael Czichos (5) reacts after scoring a goal during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Inter Miami, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Fire defender Mauricio Pineda, left, defends against Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez, right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady (34) reacts during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Inter Miami, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Fire midfielder Brian Gutiérrez (17) falls as he goes for the ball against Inter Miami midfielder Yannick Bright, right, during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, left, waves as he walks off the field with team managing owner Jorge Mas after being honored for his 45 career trophies before an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, left, stands with team managing owner Jorge Mas as Messi is awarded for his 45 career trophies before an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami defends Jordi Alba, right, runs with the ball as Chicago Fire defender Wyatt Omsberg, left, defends during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami defender Marcelo Weigandt (57) falls as he goes for the ball against Chicago Fire defender Allan Arigoni (27) during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender, center top, makes a save during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi waves as he walks off the field after being honored for his 45 career trophies before an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami defender Julian Gressel, left, falls after coming into contact with Chicago Fire midfielder Kellyn Acosta (23) during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Children hold placards before a ceremony where Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi was honored for his 45 career trophies before an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez, right, goes for the ball as Chicago Fire defender Rafael Czichos (5) defends during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, left, waves to the crowd as he is awarded for his 45 career trophies before an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. At right is Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Chicago Fire defender Arnaud Souquet, right, controls the ball as Inter Miami midfielder Robert Taylor, left, defends during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Inter Miami midfielder Matías Rojas, csecond from right, celebrates with forward Luis Suárez (9) and midfielder Federico Redondo (55) after scoring during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
