David Martínez opens scoring as LAFC upends Inter Miami in Coliseum opener

david martínez broke the deadlock in the 37th minute, finishing a swift Heung-min Son assist to give Los Angeles Football Club a 1-0 lead over Inter Miami CF in the MLS 2026 season opener at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

David Martínez finishes low after De Paul error

The goal came after Rodrigo De Paul delayed an attempted build from the back; Timothy Tillman chased down the mistake and forced a turnover inside the midfield. Stephen Eustáquio moved the ball to Heung-min Son, who quickly threaded a pass into the center of the box for David Martínez. The Venezuelan struck with his left foot, a low, driven curl that slipped past St. Clair and into the far left corner for the 1-0 lead at 37 minutes.

LAFC pressure showed in the first half

LAFC dominated the opening period, outshooting Inter Miami 10-3 in total shots and placing three attempts on target to Miami’s one. The home team’s intensity and high press turned a single error into a decisive moment, leaving the reigning champions behind at halftime in the season opener.

Coliseum debut and Messi’s presence

The match at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum drew an expected crowd of more than 60, 000 for the first MLS regular-season game ever held there, a move that accommodated Lionel Messi’s continued star pull. Messi nearly leveled the score before halftime when he was briefly brought down and then fired a long effort toward goal, but LAFC’s lead held going into the break.

david martínez came close to a second for LAFC before halftime when a Bouanga pass put him through on goal; his curler drifted just wide of the far post. That near miss left the score 1-0 at the interval and kept pressure on Inter Miami to respond in the second half.

Play resumed for the second half, with Inter Miami set to try to overturn the deficit created by the 37th-minute goal. The opener left both teams with the remainder of the match to settle the season’s first result.