Inter Miami Vs Lafc: Son, Bouanga and Martínez Turn Coliseum Into Hostile Ground as 75,673 Watch 3-0 Rout

Emerson Raymont

Published: February 22, 2026 9:28 PM ET

Inter Miami Vs Lafc: Son, Bouanga and Martínez Turn Coliseum Into Hostile Ground as 75,673 Watch 3-0 Rout

Who felt the shock first were the visitors and the crowd that had expected a Messi spectacle. In the inter miami vs lafc match that opened the MLS season, LAFC flipped expectation into a decisive 3-0 result in front of 75, 673 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum — a number that made the night one of the most-attended in league history and left Miami’s title defense on early notice.

Inter Miami Vs Lafc — immediate fallout for Miami, Messi and the title defense

Fans, coaches and several players saw consequences right away: the reigning MLS Cup presented by Audi champions left Los Angeles with no goals and questions about finishing; LAFC gained a major statement in their first league match under new leadership. Marc Dos Santos, in his first game as LAFC head coach, framed the result as both a strong start and a platform to continue building, saying it was good to win with room to progress and that now the team wants to play and build.

How the game unfolded (key facts embedded)

LAFC won 3-0 with goals by David Martínez, Denis Bouanga and Nathan Ordaz. Martínez opened the scoring in the 38th minute with an assist from Son Heung-Min. Bouanga doubled the lead late, and Ordaz added a stoppage-time finish to seal the margin.

There are two different accounts in the match coverage of how Bouanga finished his goal: one description says he dinked the ball over Dayne St. Clair and rolled it into an empty net; another describes a long pass from Timothy Tillman from roughly 50 yards that Bouanga met with a headed finish over Dayne St. Clair. That discrepancy is unclear in the provided context.

Dayne St. Clair is identified as the 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. The Herons retained 68 percent possession but created only one big chance; new designated player Germán Berterame was largely held quiet, and Lionel Messi did not record a single shot on target. Canadian international Stephen Eustáquio made a long-awaited MLS debut as a holding midfielder and was central to LAFC’s game plan.

Attendance, venue and atmosphere

Attendance: 75, 673 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Significance: cited as one of the highest-attended MLS matches ever (the second-highest in one account).
Venue note: the match was played in the Coliseum rather than LAFC’s usual stadium; the older concrete venue was chosen in part to accommodate the massive interest generated by Messi’s presence.
Atmosphere details: heavy camera presence, many pink shirts in the stands but fewer than some expected, and a visible turnout of Son Heung-Min supporters.

Compact recap timeline

Earlier in the week: LAFC posted a 6-1 win at Real España in their 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Round One opener; Martínez and Bouanga also scored in that match.
Tuesday prior to the opener: LAFC played in Honduras, endured a long flight and had one day of training before the MLS opener.
Saturday (MLS opening day): LAFC beat Inter Miami 3-0 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with Martínez (38'), Bouanga (73'), and Ordaz (stoppage time) on the scoresheet.
Background note: Inter Miami had stormed through the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, scoring 20 times in six games en route to the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy.
Forward signal: LAFC’s ability to win after midweek travel and limited training is a thread to watch as the season progresses; Miami’s lack of finishing despite heavy possession suggests adjustments will be needed.

What this leaves on the table and who should feel it most

Here’s the part that matters: LAFC’s result reshapes early momentum. The home side defended compactly, absorbed pressure and punished chances when they came — a formula that left Miami with possession but without effective finishing. Dos Santos highlighted the team’s collective resilience, saying the squad suffered together and was smart in dealing with many plays while noting that possession quality can improve.

Denis Bouanga’s performance drew particular attention, and Bouanga himself emphasized pushing forward teammate David Martínez, suggesting Martínez’s mentality has shifted from last year. The match left Messi largely stifled in terms of measurable output, even as each of his touches drew reaction from the crowd.

What’s easy to miss is how much travel and condensed timing factored in: LAFC had a Concacaf match in Honduras earlier in the week, then one day of training before this fixture — a sequence their coach cited as evidence the team can endure tough stretches together.

Micro takeaway: the loud crowd and high-profile opponent made the setting a test; LAFC passed it and Miami must respond. If you’re wondering why this keeps coming up, start with finishing and adjustments to breaking compact defenses — Miami had the ball but created very little, and that gap determined the outcome.