Messi and Inter Miami Suffer First Defeat of Season Against LAFC
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami suffered their first defeat of the season, falling 1-0 to Los Angeles FC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals.
Los Angeles FC pulled off a stunning upset in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-finals, handing Lionel Messi and Inter Miami their first defeat of the season. LAFC secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory in the first leg, thanks to a 57th-minute goal from Nathan Ordaz, a Los Angeles-born El Salvador international.
The defeat marked a surprising turn of events, as Inter Miami had been unbeaten in nine games across all competitions since the start of the season. Led by the incomparable Lionel Messi, the team had been in impressive form, topping the Major League Soccer standings. However, LAFC's determined performance on Wednesday brought Miami's winning streak to an abrupt end.
The first half of the match was a cagey affair, with neither team able to gain a decisive advantage. However, after the break, Los Angeles FC raised their intensity and began to cause problems for the visitors. In the 54th minute, LAFC fullback Ryan Hollingshead squandered a golden opportunity, blasting his shot well wide of goal after making a bursting run into the penalty area on the overlap.
Ordaz's goal three minutes later proved to be the decisive moment in the match. The 1-0 victory gives LAFC a precious advantage heading into the return leg against Inter Miami in Florida next Wednesday.
The breakthrough for Los Angeles FC came in the 57th minute, when 21-year-old homegrown striker Nathan Ordaz spun away from Sergio Busquets and unleashed a low shot into the bottom corner, past Miami keeper Oscar Ustari. This decisive moment gave LAFC the lead and momentum in the match.
Lionel Messi, who made his first start since returning from a two-week injury layoff, struggled to make an impact on the game. Despite being one of the greatest players of all time, Messi found it difficult to gain a foothold in the contest. Instead, it was Los Angeles FC who looked more likely to score, fueled by the energy of their raucous home crowd of 22,207 fans at the BMO Stadium.
Termina el partido. pic.twitter.com/vmz18aPwFX
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) April 3, 2025
The crowd, which included notable figures such as NBA superstar Stephen Curry, Miami team owner David Beckham, and Argentina national team manager Lionel Scaloni, witnessed a dominant performance from Los Angeles FC. The team created several scoring opportunities, including a header from US international Aaron Long that sailed just over the bar in the 63rd minute.
Moments later, Miami defender Maxi Falcon made a desperate goal-line block to deny LAFC midfielder Timothy Tillman. Falcon had one of Miami's few chances in the second half, but his glancing header was comfortably gathered by LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. As the match wore on, Miami's frustration grew, culminating in a wild challenge from Sergio Busquets that earned him a yellow card.
LAFC hand Inter Miami their first loss of the season after a 1-0 win in the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup tie 😤 pic.twitter.com/Q9q205ogyp
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 3, 2025
The night ended on a disappointing note for Lionel Messi, who failed to make the most of a free-kick in a promising position deep into stoppage time. Messi sent his shot whistling well over the bar, securing a deserved 1-0 victory for Los Angeles FC.
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