David Martinez scored in the first half, Denis Bouanga scored and assisted in the second half and Los Angeles FC recorded a 3-0 victory over Lionel Messi on Saturday evening to visit Inter Miami in both teams’ season opener.
Substitute Nathan Ordaz added the final goal for the hosts, moving the match to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and drawing a crowd of 75,673, the second-largest in MLS history for a regular-season match that was not part of a doubleheader.
Son Heung-Min provided the assist for Martinez’s opener for LAFC, who have lost just twice in 16 games since signing the South Korean star last summer.
Hugo Lloris made three saves for LAFC, which held Miami goalless for the first time in 15 games in all competitions – in a match with Messi -, a run that dates back to a 0-3 regular season defeat to Charlotte on September 13 last year.
Mexican-Argentine striker German Berterame made his debut for Miami, which controlled 63 percent of the ball possession.
But LAFC threatened constantly in transition, especially during the first half, and finished the night with a 16-13 edge in shots and 6-3 in attempts on goal.
Martinez gave LAFC the lead in the 38th minute.
Timothy Tillman started the attack as his tenacious defensive work turned Messi’s national teammate Rodrigo de Paul in midfield.
The ball fell to Stephen Eustaquio, who played a first-touch pass to Son above the penalty area. Son played it into Martinez’s run down the left side, and Martinez finished sharply past Dayne St. Clair for his eighth career MLS goal.
St. Clair caused problems for themselves on Bouanga’s score in the 73rd minute, racing outside the penalty area in an attempt to reach Tillman’s diagonal ball.
But Bouanga was first by a healthy margin, heading the ball past the goalkeeper before ending in a stranded goal.
Bouanga then set up Ordaz to seal the lead in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, beating his defender down the left flank before sending in a low cross.
Published on February 22, 2026
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