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LAFC Send Early Message With 3–0 Win Over Inter Miami at the Coliseum
- Gilbert Bita
- Feb 22
- 2 min read
Los Angeles FC opened the 2026 MLS season with a statement performance, defeating defending champions Inter Miami CF 3–0 on Saturday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
In front of 75,673 fans — a record for MLS opening weekend and the second-highest attendance in league history — LAFC delivered a complete display of control, chemistry, and clinical finishing to begin their campaign in emphatic fashion.
The Black & Gold also extended their perfect record in MLS season openers to 9-0-0, further cementing their reputation as one of the league’s strongest early-season sides.
Martínez Opens the Scoring
The breakthrough arrived in the 38th minute through a moment of quality involving LAFC’s global star.
Son Heung-min, who joined LAFC toward the end of last season and is now entering his first full MLS campaign, delivered a precise assist to David Martínez, who calmly finished to give LAFC the lead. Son’s vision and composure immediately reflected the impact he continues to bring to the Black & Gold, while Martínez’s finish rewarded LAFC’s growing pressure.
Bouanga Delivers the Knockout
LAFC maintained their intensity after halftime, and their persistence paid off in the 73rd minute.
Denis Bouanga capitalized on a defensive error to double the advantage, finishing confidently to make it 2–0. The Gabonese forward once again proved decisive, continuing his role as one of MLS’s most consistent attacking threats.
Bouanga’s goal highlighted LAFC’s continuity and chemistry, with much of the squad returning from last season’s deep playoff run and demonstrating clear tactical cohesion.
Ordaz Caps the Night
Substitute Nathan Ordaz sealed the victory deep into stoppage time, adding a third goal in the 90+4 minute to complete a dominant opening-night performance.
The massive crowd at the historic Coliseum created an electric atmosphere throughout, with LAFC supporters turning the venue into a sea of black and gold.
A Strong Start With Global Attention Ahead
The victory immediately positions LAFC among the early contenders for the 2026 MLS campaign. Their blend of established chemistry, high-profile talent, and attacking efficiency proved too much for an Inter Miami side still searching for early-season cohesion.
With the FIFA World Cup set to take place later this year across North America, matches of this magnitude continue to elevate the global spotlight on MLS. LAFC’s opening performance served as an early reminder that they intend to be firmly part of that conversation.
The Black & Gold are off and running — and they’ve made their intentions clear.
Pointing out the key goals, turning points, and overall team performance gives readers a quick but clear picture of why the result mattered. The simple and organised explanation helps you follow the flow of the match without needing too much technical detail, which honestly makes it more enjoyable to read. In a similar way, when students are dealing with numbers, charts, or data heavy tasks, getting support through Statistics Assignment Help Online can really help them understand calculations better and finish their work with more confidence, even when things feel a bit confusing at first.