Los Angeles FC delivered a shock result on Wednesday night, handing Lionel Messi and Inter Miami their first defeat of the season with a 1-0 upset in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final clash at BMO Stadium. A second-half strike from homegrown talent Nathan Ordaz secured a vital advantage for LAFC ahead of next week’s return leg in Florida.
Inter Miami, unbeaten in nine games across all competitions and riding high as Major League Soccer’s form team, arrived in Los Angeles with confidence. However, they met a determined LAFC side that grew into the game after a tightly contested first half. The breakthrough came in the 57th minute when 21-year-old El Salvador international Ordaz, born in Los Angeles, outmaneuvered former Barcelona star Sergio Busquets and fired a low shot past Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari into the bottom corner.
The match marked Messi’s first start since returning from a two-week injury layoff, but the Argentine superstar struggled to impose himself against a resolute LAFC defense. Miami’s attack, usually so potent, was stifled as LAFC raised their intensity after the interval, buoyed by a raucous crowd of 22,207 that included NBA icon Stephen Curry, Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham, and Argentina national team manager Lionel Scaloni.
LAFC had chances to extend their lead, with fullback Ryan Hollingshead missing a golden opportunity in the 54th minute, blasting wide after a surging run into the box. Later, US international Aaron Long headed just over from a free-kick, and midfielder Timothy Tillman was thwarted by a desperate goal-line block from Miami’s Maxi Falcon.
Miami’s rare moments of threat were snuffed out by LAFC’s former France international goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who comfortably saved a glancing header from Falcon in the second half. As frustration mounted for the visitors, Busquets received a yellow card for a reckless challenge on LAFC’s Cengiz Under.
In stoppage time, Messi had a final chance to salvage a result for Miami from a well-positioned free-kick, but his effort sailed high over the bar, encapsulating a frustrating night for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner. LAFC held firm to claim a deserved victory, sending a statement to their MLS rivals and setting the stage for a tense second leg in Florida.
With the tie delicately poised, LAFC will look to defend their slim lead, while Messi and Inter Miami will aim to regroup and turn the tables on home soil next Wednesday.
