LAFC brush aside Inter Miami in MLS season opener at Coliseum
inter miami’s defense of its MLS Cup title began in disappointing fashion as LAFC beat the champions 3-0 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in front of 75, 673 fans, the second-highest attendance in league history.
Son sets up Martínez inside a roared Coliseum
LAFC opened the scoring when Son Heung-Min fed David Martínez, who finished the chance in the 37th minute. Son, MLS’ record signing, made an immediate impact in his first full season with the club by laying on the assist that broke a cagey opening phase.
Bouanga’s second and Ordaz’s stoppage-time dagger
Timothy Tillman played a long pass over the top of the Miami defense that left new goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair stranded outside his penalty area, and Denis Bouanga took the ball round him and slotted into an empty net to double LAFC’s lead in the second half. After Son was taken off to a rapturous ovation late on, Nathan Ordaz arrived as a substitute and supplied the third goal in stoppage time from Bouanga’s cross to seal the 3-0 win.
Inter Miami's new-look side and missed chances
Messi started after recovering from a hamstring injury that forced the postponement of Miami’s final preseason friendly in Puerto Rico on Feb. 13, but he struggled to impose himself. Miami kept 68 percent possession yet produced only one big chance; Germán Berterame, the new Designated Player striker, was largely held quiet and Messi did not record a shot on target. -style coverage noted Messi’s clearest sight came in first-half stoppage time when he narrowly missed a placed attempt from the edge of the box.
Debuts, retirements and tactical notes
Coach Javier Mascherano named three debutantes in his starting lineup: Mexico international Germán Berterame led the line ahead of Messi, and new Brazilian arrival Micael started in the center of defense in front of Dayne St. Clair. A fourth newcomer, Argentine full-back Facundo Mura, was introduced at half-time to replace Ian Fray. The Miami side is missing longtime teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets after their retirements following December's MLS Cup triumph.
Coaches' take: preparation and pride
LAFC head coach Marc Dos Santos praised his team’s defensive work and preparation against “the best Messi possible, ” saying that the part of LAFC’s game in defense was “A-plus” while conceding the club could be better in possession. Dos Santos also pointed to recent match fitness, noting LAFC had played Tuesday in Honduras and won 6-1 at Real España in their Concacaf Champions Cup Round One opener earlier in the week.
Mascherano said the scoreline did not tell the full story of the match: “The reality is that they beat us fair and square, that’s the truth, ” he said, adding that the result felt somewhat misleading given how the game unfolded and that the coaching staff must analyze more than just the final score.
What happened in the stands and what’s next
The match, moved out of LAFC’s usual BMO Stadium and into the 100-year-old concrete Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to contain the Messi effect, attracted more than 75, 000 fans, with Son’s supporters prominent on the night. Canadian international Stephen Eustáquio made his long-awaited MLS debut as a holding midfielder for LAFC.
Next fixtures for both sides are unclear in the provided context.
