Inter Miami shut out 3-0 as LAFC routs reigning champions before 75,673 at Coliseum
LAFC dominated inter miami 3-0 on MLS opening day at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, handing the reigning MLS Cup champions a stinging defeat in front of 75, 673 fans.
Black & Gold controlled the night in front of a record crowd
Saturday night’s match at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum drew 75, 673 spectators as LAFC’s Black & Gold handled Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF, finishing with a 3-0 victory. The win came on MLS opening day and marked Marc Dos Santos’ first game as LAFC head coach.
Inter Miami kept possession but had almost nothing to show for it
The Herons held 68 percent possession but produced only one big chance; new designated-player striker Germán Berterame was largely held quiet, and Messi did not register a single shot on target. Despite the control, inter miami could not break through LAFC’s defense.
Bouanga and Son turned chances into goals
David Martínez opened the scoring in the 38th minute after a Son Heung-Min assist, and Denis Bouanga doubled the lead in the 73rd minute with a trademark dink over 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair that rolled into the empty net. Nathan Ordaz also found the net as LAFC finished with three goals and three points.
Martínez and Bouanga built on early-week form from Concacaf play
The first two goal scorers — Martínez and Bouanga — had also scored earlier in the week when LAFC cruised to a 6-1 win at Real España in their 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Round One opener, carrying that form into the Coliseum performance.
Dos Santos praised the team’s preparation and resilience
After the match, Marc Dos Santos praised his squad’s readiness. “It’s good to win like this and still have so much margin to progress, ” he said following the victory in his first game as LAFC head coach. He added: “Now we want to play and build the team. ”
Dos Santos noted the team’s recent travel and limited preparation as part of its test: “A very positive thing is we played Tuesday in Honduras. We flew a very long flight, we had one day of training, and we were able to suffer as a team. That quality of being able to suffer as a team together is an important quality for a team. ” He also evaluated the match plan: “When we prepared for the game, we prepared to face the best Messi possible. I think that part of our game today, 'A+. ' The part of possession, ‘B’, we can be much better, and we want to be much better. But our guys were a team, suffered together, were smart dealing with a lot of plays, and that’s important going forward. ”
Midfield balance and a debut that mattered
Canadian international Stephen Eustáquio, playing as a holding midfielder in his long-awaited MLS debut, was at the center of LAFC’s efforts, helping stifle inter miami’s chances and allowing Son and the forwards to convert the opportunities they created.
The last time LAFC faced official competition before this match, Inter Miami had stormed through the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, scoring 20 times in six games during their run to the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy — a reminder of the contrast between Miami’s recent form and Saturday’s result.
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