LA Coliseum- A clash of MLS titans on Saturday night ended with Los Angeles FC delivering a 3–0 thrashing of Inter Miami CF in front of an Opening Day record crowd of 75,673 fans. The primetime, made-for-TV showdown featured two of the biggest stars in Major League Soccer: Lionel Messi and Son Heung-min.
In a performance that felt almost perfectly scripted, LAFC delighted the home crowd with a clear and effective game plan: lightning-quick counterattacks led by Denis Bouanga and Son, paired with a strong, compact low block on the defensive end.
The Black and Gold triumphed emphatically despite holding just 34.5% possession during the match. David Martinez, Denis Bouanga, and Nathan Ordaz found the back of the net for the Los Angeles side.
Inter Miami and Messi fell short in their 2026 MLS audition in the City of Angels but will have a chance to bounce back in their next match against in-state rivals Orlando City SC.
The Herons got crushed by LAFC’s counter attack & intense low block defending..Not to mention the lack of creativity in the midfield…3-0 against a strong contender..Move on from the loss & regroup..#InterMiamiCF #MLS #Lemoncitylive pic.twitter.com/DZgq9FHnbc
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) February 22, 2026
Midfield Mishaps
The Herons’ midfield struggled against Los Angeles FC, failing to control the tempo or provide defensive stability throughout the match. Rodrigo De Paul had a particularly difficult outing, committing a costly blunder that directly led to LAFC’s opening goal.
De Paul gives the ball ⚽️ away & the resulting counter attack is a David Martinez goal for #LAFC 1-0.. Yannick Bright is lost in the midfield.. #MLS #InterMiamiCF #Lemoncitylive
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) February 22, 2026
Rodrigo De Paul and Yannick Bright looked out of sync for most of the night, with De Paul frequently bypassing an unmarked Bright in favor of other options. Ironically, it wasn’t until after his costly blunder that De Paul began involving Bright more consistently in possession, hinting at a lack of cohesion in the midfield early on.
Telasco Segovia tried to spark creativity for Miami, but the disconnect between the midfield unit and LA’s organized defensive structure limited his impact. Mateo Silvetti was largely ineffective, only showing brief flashes without sustaining any real influence on the game.
Overall, Inter Miami’s midfield failed to provide quality service in space to Lionel Messi and German Berterame, leaving the forwards isolated and with very few clear chances on goal throughout the night.
Messi Frustration
During the match, Lionel Messi repeatedly voiced his frustration to the referee, arguing that several fouls committed by Los Angeles FC players went uncalled. The tension carried beyond the final whistle, as Messi continued his complaints toward referee Pierre-Luc Lauziere in the stadium tunnels on the way to the officials’ locker room.
The situation threatened to escalate, but Luis Suarez intervened at a crucial moment, holding Messi back and preventing him from following the referees into their quarters—an action that could have resulted in a significant disciplinary penalty. Thankfully for Miami, Messi will be available for their next match versus Orlando City.
The GOAT 🐐 looks like he’s safe from an apparent fine from #MLS..Hopefully, he takes out his anger on Orlando City next week ..#Messi #FreeMessi #InterMiamiCF #Lemoncitylive
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) February 22, 2026
Final Thoughts
The Herons lost ugly to LAFC, but it’s only the beginning of a long road ahead. Miami has an immediate chance to change the narrative by going into Orlando and providing a solid performance against its dreaded rivals. Messi and the boys can quickly turn the page and please the fans with a resounding and aesthetically pleasing win.
The Herons got crushed by LAFC’s counter attack & intense low block defending..Not to mention the lack of creativity in the midfield…3-0 against a strong contender..Move on from the loss & regroup..#InterMiamiCF #MLS #Lemoncitylive pic.twitter.com/DZgq9FHnbc
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) February 22, 2026
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