Inter Miami Vs Lafc — LAFC’s 3-0 Rout at the Coliseum Shifts Early Pressure onto Inter Miami and Hands LAFC Momentum

Emerson Raymont

Published: February 22, 2026 2:16 AM ET

Inter Miami Vs Lafc — LAFC’s 3-0 Rout at the Coliseum Shifts Early Pressure onto Inter Miami and Hands LAFC Momentum

The inter miami vs lafc opener mattered for more than a scoreline: LAFC’s 3-0 win immediately redirected scrutiny toward the defending champions and gave LAFC a psychological lift. The result landed on Matchday 1 of the 2026 MLS season inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where a crowd of over 75, 673 — and generally more than 75, 000 in attendance — watched LAFC deflate the title narrative that had been circling Inter Miami.

Inter Miami Vs Lafc impact: who felt the immediate ripple

For Inter Miami, the loss is a blunt early indicator of pressure on a team carrying title expectations. For LAFC and their fans — including a visible contingent cheering Son Heung-min — the win is a momentum builder and a statement that the reigning champion can be disrupted even when the fixture is staged away from LAFC’s usual ground. Here’s the part that matters: fans, team momentum and early-season narratives all changed in one night.

Game details and decisive moments

LAFC produced three goals to seal a 3-0 victory. David Martínez opened the scoring after a slick pass from Son Heung-min set up the early breakthrough. Denis Bouanga doubled the lead in the 73rd minute, converting a header after a long, 50-yard pass from Timothy Tillman that Bouanga redirected over goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. Nathan Ordaz wrapped up the margin with a stoppage-time finish to make the final tally 3-0.

How the setting shifted the script

This wasn’t held at LAFC’s regular BMO Stadium; the match was moved into the century-old Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum — described in the match coverage as a 100-year-old concrete venue that has hosted Olympics and Super Bowls — in large part to contain the Lionel Messi effect. The move produced a massive crowd, cameras everywhere and noticeably fewer pink shirts than some expected. Son Heung-min’s supporters, by contrast, turned out in force and were singled out in the atmosphere recap as dominating the evening’s cheers.

Tactics, Messi’s impact and what played out on the pitch

LAFC’s approach emphasized compactness and patience: they absorbed pressure, disrupted Inter Miami’s build and waited for openings. Son provided the assist for Martínez’s opener, and that finish felt like a team execution rather than an individual miracle. Messi produced moments that drew reactions every time he touched the ball, but those moments didn’t produce goals. Inter Miami controlled possession in stretches, yet the Black and Gold stayed disciplined and converted their chances when they arrived.

Short timeline of the night

Matchday 1 of the 2026 MLS season: opener staged at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
David Martínez opened the scoring after a Son Heung-min assist.
Denis Bouanga scored in the 73rd minute from a 50-yard Timothy Tillman pass, heading past Dayne St. Clair.
Nathan Ordaz sealed the 3-0 result with a stoppage-time goal.
Social clips from the evening were timestamped February 22, 2026.

What’s easy to miss is how much the venue change shaped the crowd dynamic: the Coliseum’s size and history amplified both Messi’s draw and the presence of rival supporters, creating an atmosphere that didn’t ultimately translate into goals for the visitors.

For stakeholders — players, coaching staffs, and traveling fans — the match reshuffles early expectations. Inter Miami leaves Matchday 1 carrying unanswered questions about finishing and results under heavy scrutiny; LAFC departs with a clear early-season boost and a tactical blueprint that worked against the champions. The real question now is whether this result will alter preparation and lineup choices for both teams as the season continues.

Social highlights and clips from the night circulated with timestamps of February 22, 2026, capturing the goals and crowd noise, but on the pitch the decisive details remain simple: Martínez’s opener, Bouanga’s 73rd-minute header from Tillman’s 50-yard pass over Dayne St. Clair, and Ordaz’s stoppage-time finish combined for a 3-0 LAFC victory that upended the opener’s expected narrative.

(Schedule and crowd figures noted above are from the match coverage; the Coliseum setting was chosen specifically for its capacity to host the large attendance tied to the event. )