Lionel Messi & Inter Miami Shocked by LAFC in CONCACAF Champions Cup Upset

Inter Miami suffered their first defeat of the season in a major upset when Los Angeles FC won 1-0 in an away match during the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final on Wednesday.

A 57th-minute strike from Los Angeles-born El Salvador international Nathan Ordaz gave LAFC a crucial advantage going into next Wednesday’s return leg in Florida.

I think we were able to see a full performance, said LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo, whose only complaint was that the team had not been able to win in a more convincing way.

“We need to be a little sharper – honest with ourselves,” she said. “If next week in Miami brings us chances like these, we must be more ruthless.”

Miami coach Javier Mascherano had very few complaints with his side’s defeat.

“We didn’t have the best night tonight but as there is another leg to go, we’re focused,” Mascherano said.

“Next week we have more luck in that game.” More so, Messi and Miami arrived in Los Angeles as the form team of Major League Soccer, having gone unbeaten in nine games across all competitions since the start of the season. But after a cagey first half that saw both teams struggle for control, it was Los Angeles who began stepping up a gear and making it hard for their opposition.

LAFC fullback Ryan Hollingshead wasted a clear opportunity:

That came his way in the 54th minute, shooting wide after blasting through the penalty area from the overlap.

Three minutes later, the homegrown 21-year-old striker Ordaz scored the first goal by spinning away from former Barcelona and Spain international Sergio Busquets and firing a low shot into the bottom corner past Miami keeper Oscar Ustari.

Argentine superstar Messi had his first start since coming off the bench last weekend after a two-week layoff due to injury. It wasn’t so easy for him to take root in the game.

Instead it was Los Angeles who looked likeliest to score in front of a raucous home crowd of 22,207 fans at the BMO Stadium that included NBA superstar Stephen Curry, Miami team owner David Beckham and Argentina national team manager Lionel Scaloni.

Aaron Long headed just over for the US from a free-kick in the 63rd minute, before an immediate desperate save on the goal-line by Miami’s Maxi Falcon saved the LAFC midfielder Timothy Tillman.

Falcon made one of the few Miami :

Chances in the second half, just heading the ball toward the bottom corner, which was collected effortlessly by Hugo Lloris, the former France international goalkeeper for LAFC.

In a sign of ever-mounting Miami frustrations, Busquets saw yellow for a wild challenge on Cengiz Under.

Messi’s disappointing evening was capped by him failing to take advantage of a free-kick in a promising position late into stoppage time, with the Argentine curling his shot well over the bar as LAFC held on for a well-deserved victory.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were stunned by a shock loss at the hands of LAFC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. With great expectations, LAFC’s solid defense and tactical gameplay stifled the attacking line of Miami. Messi and the crew could hardly have a sniff of the goal, and the defeat came off as an unexpected loss that changes the dynamics of the tournament.

Time to ponder upon the form of Inter-Miami as far as international competitions are concerned: Can they recover in the next? Prepare for the greatest matches yet with Messi, but he and his squad need to regroup and refocus if they want to keep staying relevant in the tournament.

Keep watching for updates as Inter Miami looks to rehabilitate itself from this hindrance!

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