Led by Lionel Messi, the Herons struggled to impose themselves from the opening whistle. LAFC dictated the tempo, pressing high and winning possession in dangerous areas while preventing Miami from building through midfield.
The breakthrough came after sustained pressure. Son Heung-min was heavily involved early, first testing the defense with a one-on-one chance before setting up Denis Bouanga, whose effort was denied. Moments later, Son turned provider again, assisting David Martinez for a precise opener that gave the hosts full control.
After halftime, head coach Javier Mascherano reshuffled his side, and Inter Miami showed brief improvement in structure and possession. However, their lack of cutting edge in the final third proved costly. Bouanga capitalized in the 72nd minute, dribbling past the goalkeeper to double LAFC’s lead. Deep into stoppage time, Nathan Ordaz sealed the 3-0 result with a clinical finish.
It marks Inter Miami’s first defeat of the 2026 season and a disappointing start to their MLS campaign. They will look to respond next Sunday against Orlando City SC.
Meanwhile, LAFC shift focus to the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where they carry a commanding 6-1 aggregate advantage into their second-leg clash with Real España.
