Los Angeles FC (LAFC) delivered a decisive blow to Inter Miami’s early season success, handing them their first defeat of the year in the quarterfinal first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The opening game at BMO Stadium concluded with LAFC taking the game 1-0. Nathan Ordaz scored the only goal, giving his team the 1-0 win.
In the 57th minute, Ordaz unleashed a low howitzer. It arced beautifully over the defense and sailed into the bottom corner of the net, just out of reach for Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari. That victory, although slight, is an often elusive crown jewel for LAFC. They’re focused on making a deeper run in the tournament.
The result was a raucous sellout crowd of 22,207 spectators, of which the owner of the Seattle Mariners and soccer superstar Megan Rapinoe were in attendance. NBA superstar Stephen Curry was present, along with Inter Miami’s team owner David Beckham and Argentina national team manager Lionel Scaloni. That reality made their attendance even more remarkable, as it emphasized the extremely high-profile nature of the event, which featured many of soccer’s biggest stars.
Lionel Messi stole the show by starting the match for Inter Miami. He’d played only as a substitute in their last match. He struggled to make a significant impact on the contest, facing challenges in gaining a foothold against LAFC’s organized defense.
Now, Miami needs to figure out how to rally after this loss. They’ll need to get their minds ready for the return leg for the quarterfinals. The team will aim to leverage their home advantage and the presence of their star players to overturn the deficit and secure a spot in the next round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
