Gonzalo Higuain continued his scorching game with two goals as Inter Miami CF clinched a berth in the MLS Eastern Conference playoffs with a stellar 4-1 win over Orlando City SC on Wednesday night in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. .
Leonardo Campana and Ariel Lassiter also scored as Inter Miami (14-13-6, 48 points) won their fourth straight game to move up to fifth in the East.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (US)
Ercan Kara scored for Orlando City (13-14-6, 45 points), which fell to eighth in the East due to the Columbus Crew’s 2-2 draw once morest Charlotte FC earlier on Wednesday. The result propelled Columbus (10-7-16, 46 points) to seventh and last place in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Orlando City hosts Columbus on Sunday in the regular season finale for both teams.
The fiery Higuain announced on Monday that he would be retiring following the season, but he is stepping out in style. He has scored six goals in Miami’s winning streak and has scored eight in the last seven games. Higuain, 34, leads Miami with 16 goals.
Orlando took 16 shots, but only one was on target. Miami made four of its six shots on goal.
Pedro Gallese had two saves for the Lions, and Drake Callender wasn’t called upon to make any for Miami.
Miami started the rout with a goal in the first minute. Campana fired a long left-footed shot towards the net, and Gallese mightn’t get back in time as the ball went over his head for Campana’s 11th goal of the campaign.
Higuain scored his first goal of the night in the 38th minute. A pass from Lassiter missed him, but he still managed a left-footed shot that beat Gallese.
Five minutes into the second half, Orlando City’s Ruan was called off for a hand ball and the Herons were awarded a penalty.
Higuain stepped in in the 52nd minute and sent a right-footed shot into the left corner of the net to register the brace.
Just four minutes later, Miami increased the lead to 4-0 when Lassiter sent a booming left foot across the box past Gallese for his fourth goal of the season.
Orlando entered the board in the 71st minute when Facundo Torres fed Kara, who sent a right-footed shot that hit the left goal post and entered the net for his 11th goal of the season.
Miami closes the regular season by hosting CF Montreal on Sunday.
