Daijiworld Media Network - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, Feb 22: Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) kicked off its 2026 Major League Soccer regular season in emphatic fashion, defeating Inter Miami CF 3–0 in front of 75,673 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The match marked the second-highest attendance in MLS history and the most attended opening weekend fixture the league has seen.
Goals from David Martínez (38’), Denis Bouanga (73’), and Nathan Ordaz (90+4’) powered the Black & Gold to victory, extending their flawless record in season openers to nine consecutive wins (9W-0L-0D) since joining MLS.
The marquee clash featured reigning MLS MVP Lionel Messi against LAFC’s global star Son Heung-min, but the evening ultimately belonged to LAFC’s relentless attacking unit. Miami, fielding several new additions and playing its first competitive match of 2026, struggled to contain the hosts’ high-pressure approach.
Early chances signaled LAFC’s intent. In the sixth minute, Bouanga split Miami’s defense with a precise pass, setting Son through on goal. The South Korean forward rounded goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and squared the ball back to Bouanga, whose close-range attempt was tipped over the bar. Bouanga continued to threaten, while a 14th-minute free kick from Son rattled Miami’s defensive wall.
The breakthrough came in the 38th minute when Stephen Eustaquio capitalized on a loose ball and fed Son at the top of the penalty area. Son quickly teed up Martínez, who finished clinically with his left foot to give LAFC a 1–0 lead at halftime.
Defending MLS Cup champions Miami emerged after the break with renewed urgency. Substitute Facundo Mura delivered a cross off a Messi setup that striker German Bertarame headed narrowly wide, offering a glimpse of a potential comeback.
However, LAFC doubled its advantage in the 73rd minute. Timmy Tillman launched a long ball toward Miami’s box, prompting St. Clair to rush off his line. Bouanga reacted swiftly, nodding the ball past the advancing keeper and calmly slotting it into the empty net for 2–0.
The hosts nearly extended their lead again in the 87th minute when Son danced around St. Clair and found Bouanga near the goal line, but a slip allowed the keeper to recover.
Moments later, substitute Nathan Ordaz made an immediate impact. In stoppage time, Bouanga surged down the left flank and delivered a precise pass into the center, where Ordaz finished confidently to seal the 3–0 triumph.
With the commanding victory, LAFC not only began its campaign in style but also reinforced its reputation as one of MLS’s most formidable opening-day performers.