In the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal, Los Angeles FC (LAFC) secured a 1-0 victory over Inter Miami, dealing the team, which includes Lionel Messi, their first loss of the season. The match, played at the BMO Stadium, saw Nathan Ordaz score the only goal in the 57th minute, turning the tide in LAFC’s favor.

Inter Miami, unbeaten in nine games across all competitions since the start of the season, struggled to find their footing against a spirited LAFC side. The first half of the match was closely contested, with neither side managing a clear advantage. However, after the break, LAFC increased their intensity and started to pressure Inter Miami.

Despite a missed opportunity by LAFC’s Ryan Hollingshead early in the second half, the breakthrough came when Ordaz skillfully broke away from Inter Miami’s former Barcelona player, Sergio Busquets, and scored a crucial low shot that sailed past Miami’s goalkeeper, Oscar Ustari.

Lionel Messi, who made his first start since returning from a two-week injury layoff, had a challenging night and failed to influence the game significantly. The Argentinian’s only notable attempt came in stoppage time, where his free kick went well over the bar.

LAFC, supported by a lively home crowd of 22,207 fans, including NBA superstar Stephen Curry, Miami team owner David Beckham, and Argentina national team manager Lionel Scaloni, looked to extend their lead. However, Inter Miami’s Maxi Falcon nearly leveled the score in the 63rd minute with a header that LAFC’s goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, saved.

As frustration mounted for Inter Miami, Busquets was cautioned for a hard tackle on Cengiz Under.

This result sets LAFC in a comfortable position as they head to Florida for the return leg of the quarterfinal. Despite Inter Miami’s star power, including Messi, the match showcased the potential of LAFC in international competition.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/4/3/messi-inter-miami-lose-to-lafc-in-concacaf-champions-cup?traffic_source=rss