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In a match where they need to win or they'll be knocked out in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs for the second consecutive season, key Inter Miami attacker Luis Suarez has found out that he will be suspended. Suarez's suspension was applied after Game 2 of the opening round by the MLS Disciplinary Committee following its review of footage of Miami's match against Nashville, and it was deemed that he committed violent conduct when he kicked Nashville defender Andy Najar in the 71st minute.

How to watch Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC, odds

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 8 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • Location: Chase Stadium -- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  • Live stream: MLS Season Pass
  • Odds: Inter Miami -210; Draw +380; Nashville SC +470

Defender Ian Fray was also fined for diving during the match, but this suspension of Suarez is a major blow to the Herons. After Lionel Messi, Suarez has been the next most effective attacker on the team with 14 goals and 15 assists in all competitions, but when it matters most, he'll now be unavailable, and manager Javier Mascherano will need to look to other options to lead the line.

"Inter Miami CF accepts and respects the decision made by the MLS Disciplinary Committee," Inter Miami said in a statement. "At the same time, the club wishes to express its concern about the precedent set by re-refereeing a play that had already been judged by the match officials and VAR, and its confidence that the same standard will be applied in the future to all on-field situations, in any match and involving any team."

Previous incidents

This is the second suspension for Suarez this season after picking up a nine-game suspension for spitting on a Seattle Sounders staff member during Leagues Cup play. That suspension included six games in Leagues Cup play and three more in MLS play. The Miami forward has an extensive history of going over the line on a soccer pitch.

Suarez has received three biting bans of varying lengths during his career -- four months for biting Giorgio Chiellini in 2014, 10 games for biting Branislav Ivanovic in 2013, and seven games for biting Otman Bakkal. He was also suspended after being found guilty of using a racial slur against Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. 

Coping without Suarez

It's a blow to Miami when this tie is a critical one. Win and they're through to the next round, but with a loss, it'll be a long offseason. If it's level after 90 minutes, aggregate score won't matter as things will go right to penalties, increasing the pressure on the tie. In Suarez's 29 starts between the regular season and playoffs, Miami have won 18 games and drawn six, scoring 71 goals while only allowing 40. Without him, while they only played seven matches, they didn't go well, with two wins, two draws, and three losses while sporting a minus four goal difference.

While Suarez took a step back in the scoring department this season, his presence has been critical to Miami's performances, and for him to be suspended in this moment will leave more on Messi's shoulders than usual. Looking behind Suarez in the XI, things are bleak for Miami. After sending Leonardo Campana to the New England Revolution during the offseason, they essentially played without a backup center forward, and now they'll need one. Mateo Silvetti is someone who could get the call.

Only 19 years old, Silvetti is still in search of his first career goal and has only five appearances ever for the club. This would be quite a moment to turn to such an inexperienced player, but it's not like Miami has many options. Pressure was going to be on Messi no matter what, but now that has increased. Last season the Herons were knocked out in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs by Atlanta United.

Now, in a game three facing Nashville, they're looking at the same fate. They haven't won a knockout tournament this season, and even with their success in the Club World Cup, this is a season that won't live up to expectations without lifting the MLS Cup at the end of it, which now requires overcoming Suarez's antics.