Inter Miami Vs Lafc: LAFC Brush Aside Inter Miami 3-0 in Monumental Season Opener
The season opener billed as Inter Miami Vs Lafc ended with LAFC dominating the reigning MLS Cup champions 3-0 in front of 75, 673 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a turnout described as historic and the second-highest attended MLS match ever. The comprehensive win exposed cracks in Miami’s title defense and set a clear tone for LAFC under their new head coach.
Inter Miami Vs Lafc: Match overview
LAFC scored through David Martínez, Denis Bouanga and Nathan Ordaz to complete the 3-0 victory. Martínez opened the scoring in the 38th minute with an assist from Son Heung-Min. Bouanga doubled the lead in the 73rd minute; the goal is described both as a dink over 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair that rolled into an empty net and also as a sequence where a long pass from Timothy Tillman was met by Bouanga, who headed the ball over St. Clair into the goal. Ordaz sealed the result in stoppage time with a powerful finish.
Key performers and tactical notes
Son Heung-Min provided the assist for Martínez’s opener and drew a prominent crowd response, with Son supporters notably visible on the night. Stephen Eustáquio made his long-awaited MLS debut for LAFC as a holding midfielder and was at the center of the home side’s efforts. LAFC defended compactly, absorbed pressure and disrupted Miami’s rhythm; the approach frustrated Inter Miami despite the visitors holding 68 percent possession.
What went wrong for the champions
Inter Miami arrived as the reigning MLS Cup presented by Audi champions after a run in which they scored 20 times in six games en route to the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. On this night, however, the Herons produced just one big chance. New designated-player striker Germán Berterame was largely held quiet and Lionel Messi did not manage a single shot on target. Miami’s possession failed to translate into meaningful opportunities, and the goals never came.
Coach, context and recent form
For LAFC this was Marc Dos Santos’s first game as head coach. He highlighted that the squad had played a midweek match in Honduras, flying a very long flight, training just one day and then coping together on the road; that ability to suffer as a team was noted as important. The match also followed LAFC’s recent 6-1 win at Real España in their 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Round One opener, in which Martínez and Bouanga also found the net earlier in the week.
Attendance, atmosphere and broader significance
The game was staged at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a 100-year-old concrete venue chosen in place of LAFC’s usual stadium in order to contain the Messi effect. More than 75, 000 attended, cameras were abundant, and the sea of expected pink shirts was smaller than anticipated. Observers noted that Son supporters turned out in force and helped shape the evening’s atmosphere. For LAFC, the comprehensive win, the crowd and the early-season momentum provide a strong base to build on; for Inter Miami, the match raises immediate questions about how to convert possession into goals moving forward.
Immediate takeaways and next steps
LAFC’s strategy of defending compactly and striking on chances paid dividends in the opener. The home side’s ability to absorb pressure and execute in key moments produced a convincing victory that will buoy morale under their new coach. Inter Miami’s substantial possession and moments of individual quality were not enough to alter the scoreboard, leaving the champions to regroup and address their finishing in upcoming fixtures. Details about forthcoming schedules or adjustments were unclear in the provided context.
