In a matchup of the defending champions, Inter Miami defeated Los Angeles FC 3-1 on Sunday. Facundo Farias, Jordi Alba, and Leonardo Campana all scored goals, while Lionel Messi contributed two assists.
Since Messi's first game with the team on July 21, Inter Miami has improved to 10-0-1 in all competitions thanks to Drake Callender's five saves. A Leagues Cup victory versus Nashville SC on August 19 is part of the winning streak.
Inter Miami (7-14-4, 25 points) bounced back from Wednesday's scoreless draw with Nashville, improving to 2-0-1 in MLS play under Messi.
In order to prevent the shutout, LAFC (11-8-7, 40 points) scored off a set piece in the 90th minute. For the defending MLS Cup champions, who are currently in third place in the Western Conference, John McCarthy made three saves.
Denis Bouanga's close-range shot in the 11th minute gave LAFC a chance to take the lead, but Callender knocked the ball away with his clinched right fist.
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In the 14th minute, Farias gave Inter Miami a 1-0 lead with a sliding shot from just inside the penalty area following a long through ball by Tomas Aviles from midfield. In his third game and second start with Inter Miami, Farias scored his first goal.
In the 38th minute, Messi had a great goal opportunity, but McCarthy diverted his left-footed drive from close to the penalty spot.
Alba made it 2-0 in the 51st minute when he scored from the center of the penalty area off a long through ball from Messi. Campana sealed the victory when he finished a two-on-one break with a left-footed goal off a Messi pass. The assists were Messi’s first in MLS regular-season action.
Inter Miami started all six of their summer signings together for the first time: Messi, Farias, Aviles, Alba, Sergio Busquets and Diego Gomez.
The star-studded crowd at Los Angeles included Prince Harry of Wales, actors Owen Wilson and Leonardo DiCaprio, musician/actress Selena Gomez and comedian/actor Will Ferrell, who is part of the LAFC ownership group.
