Messi remains quiet as Inter Miami suffers heavy defeat on MLS debut

Match result - On a day when Lionel Messi made little impact, Inter Miami suffered a loss to LAFC in their MLS opener.

The first half between Los Angeles and Inter Miami was played with an open style and many chances created from the early minutes.

The home team started more aggressively. In the 6th minute, Denis Bouanga had a dangerous shot inside the box but goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair made an excellent save. Bouanga remained a key threat with several attempts, though either missing the target or being blocked by the defense.

Inter Miami responded with sharp attacking moves. In the 21st minute, Lionel Messi delivered a precise pass to German Berterame who fired a tricky shot, forcing Hugo Lloris into a fine save. The match was briefly paused due to Yannick Bright’s injury.

The turning point came in the 37th minute. Following a costly turnover by De Paul, Son Heung-Min seized the chance to assist David Martinez, who calmly finished into the low left corner to open the scoring for LAFC. Near the end of the half, Messi attempted a long-range left-footed shot that narrowly missed the post.

In the second half, Inter Miami pushed forward seeking an equalizer. At the 50th minute, Messi had a chance with a left-footed shot inside the box, but it flew over the bar. One minute later, Mateo Silvetti tried a shot from distance, but Hugo Lloris stood firm to block it.

The visitors increased pressure with shots from Facundo Mura and Silvetti, but LAFC’s defense stayed focused, repeatedly stopping attempts. At 63 minutes, German Berterame headed close after a Facundo Mura cross, but the ball went just wide. Then at 71 minutes, Messi leapt to head from the center of the box following Rodrigo De Paul’s pass, but the effort was blocked by defenders.

While Inter Miami struggled to find a goal, LAFC launched a swift counterattack in the 73rd minute. Timothy Tillman set up Denis Bouanga, who easily dribbled past the keeper and finished accurately into the low right corner, doubling LAFC’s lead.

In the remaining minutes, Messi and Inter Miami’s attacking stars pushed forward to find a goal, but only managed chances. Florida’s team even conceded another goal in stoppage time when Nathan Ordaz scored from close range. The match ended with LAFC winning 3-0 over Inter Miami.

Match events

Match ended

90'+4': Goal! Los Angeles 3, Inter Miami CF 0. Nathan Ordaz (Los Angeles) scores with a close-range right-footed shot.

89': Unsuccessful shot. Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles) took a right-footed shot from outside the box, which went high and wide to the right.

87': Shot blocked. Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles) fired a right-footed shot from inside the box but it was blocked. Assist by Son Heung-Min.

79': Shot saved. Tadeo Allende (Inter Miami CF) took a left-footed shot from outside the box but was stopped by the goalkeeper.

73': Goal! Los Angeles Football Club 2, Inter Miami CF 0. Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles Football Club) scored with a right-footed shot from inside the box into the lower right corner. Assist by Timothy Tillman following a quick counterattack.

71': Shot blocked. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF) headed from inside the box but was stopped. Assist by Rodrigo De Paul.

63': Missed shot. Germán Berterame (Inter Miami CF) headed from inside the box, ball close to goal but went wide right. Assist by Facundo Mura.

61': Sergi Palencia (Los Angeles) awarded a free kick in his own half.

57': Shot blocked. Mateo Silvetti (Inter Miami CF) took a right-footed shot from outside the box but was blocked.

53': Shot blocked. Facundo Mura (Inter Miami CF) fired a right-footed shot from the right side of the box but was stopped. Assist by Lionel Messi.

51': Shot saved. Mateo Silvetti (Inter Miami CF) took a left-footed shot from outside the box, saved by Hugo Lloris (Los Angeles Football Club) in the center of the goal. Assist by Yannick Bright.

50': Missed shot. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF) took a left-footed shot from the left side of the box but it went too high.

Second half begins

First half ends.

45'+8': Missed shot. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF) took a left-footed shot from outside the box, ball close to goal but veered left. Assist by Yannick Bright.

45'+6': Missed shot. David Martinez (Los Angeles) took a left-footed shot from inside the box, ball close to goal but went left. Assist by Denis Bouanga after a quick counterattack.

45'+2': Ian Fray (Inter Miami CF) awarded a free kick on the right wing.

45': The fourth official indicated 7 minutes of added time.

37': Goal! Los Angeles 1, Inter Miami CF 0. David Martínez (Los Angeles) scored with a left-footed shot from inside the box into the lower left corner. Assist by Son Heung-Min.

34': Shot saved. David Martínez (Los Angeles Football Club) took a left-footed shot from the left side of the box into the lower left corner but was blocked by Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami CF).

27': Ian Fray (Inter Miami CF) awarded a free kick in his own half.

25': Match paused due to Yannick Bright’s injury (Inter Miami CF).

24': Missed shot. Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles) took a left-footed shot from the left side of the box, ball close to goal but went left.

21': Shot saved. Germán Berterame (Inter Miami CF) took a right-footed shot from inside the box, saved by Hugo Lloris (Los Angeles Football Club) in the lower left corner. Assist by Lionel Messi.

20': Ryan Porteous (Los Angeles) awarded a free kick in his own half.

17': Shot blocked. Sergi Palencia (Los Angeles) took a right-footed shot from inside the box but was blocked. Assist by Timothy Tillman.

16': Shot blocked. Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles) took a left-footed shot from inside the box but was blocked.

14': Shot blocked. Son Heung-Min (Los Angeles) took a right-footed shot from outside the box but was stopped.

10': Missed shot. Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles) took a right-footed shot from the left side of the six-yard box.

6': Shot saved. Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles) took a right-footed shot from inside the box, saved by Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami CF) at the top corner. Assist by Son Heung-Min.

4': Timothy Tillman (Los Angeles) awarded a free kick in his own half.

4': Shot blocked. Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami CF) took a right-footed shot from outside the box but was blocked.

First half begins