You know a situation is dire when it casts Luis Suárez as its level-headed participant.
Such were the scenes after Inter Miami opened its MLS Cup defense with a pitiful 3-0 defeat at Los Angeles FC. Through 90 minutes, with LAFC coming off of a midweek continental match, both team’s stars stuck it out to try starting the 2026 season on the right foot. Son Heung-min made it 89 minutes, subbed out when the result was beyond doubt. Lionel Messi played every minute but was held without a goal contribution, failing to place either of his shot attempts on target and seeing all three created chances go uncashed by his teammates.
After the game, a journalist caught Messi confronting referees as they walked through the tunnels after the game. He may have kept up this walk-and-talk had Suárez not pulled his close friend away. An MLS spokesperson clarified this was not the door to the referee’s locker room, and a league review found that Messi had not violated any policies.
Miami and LAFC are two of MLS’s glamor sides these days, both able to recruit global superstars and promising young players with regularity. Both expect to be in contention for every trophy on offer, and LAFC’s hopes of winning its third Supporters’ Shield gained a significant boost by taking three points off of the presumptive favorites.
The bygone offseason saw both teams retool. LAFC opted to replace outgoing head coach Steve Cherundolo with his assistant, Marc Dos Santos. Miami overturned nearly half of the lineup that won last year’s title game – often with players who, on paper, looked like upgrades.
In practice, their lack of chemistry was clearest to see on LAFC’s second goal of the night. The bedrock of any good defense is the relationship between a goalkeeper and his center backs. Playing an aggressive high-line after conceding first, Micael and Maxi Falcón stayed in the attacking half even after LAFC regained possession deep within its own half.
Most teams in MLS would know this is the exact scenario which Denis Bouanga, the dynamic downhill winger from Gabon, looks to exploit. And yet, Miami’s defense stood flat-footed and afforded Bouanga an entire half of terrain to run into, with new goalkeeper Dayne St Clair stuck in no man’s land outside the box.
Miami’s disjointed state stood in stark contrast against LAFC’s well-rehearsed side. Ten of LAFC’s starters for Saturday’s season opener were part of the squad which fell to last year’s Western Conference champion, Vancouver. In his second MLS head coaching position, Dos Santos has tried to increase LAFC’s share of touches without straying too far from the principles of play that made Cherundolo’s tenure so often successful. And, thanks to the intangibles forged only from continuity, it’s set the team up for the loudest statement result possible in this league: a blowout of Messi’s Miami.
“I never mentioned the past to the players,” Dos Santos said on Saturday night. “I talked about what we can really become and the future. I have a good group of guys who are good people and have strong mentalities. … When you have a group that likes being together, they know what they have to do on the field. It’s amazing for a coach.
“MLS is not a walk in the park, and it’s not like everything is “Alice in Wonderland.” It is hard sometimes, and we have to be ready.”
João Klauss is throwback Galaxy
Historically, the LA Galaxy’s starting striker has been a notable name among MLS ranks. They’ve signed many Guys You’d Heard Of Already: Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan (some years), Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez. They’ve signed the league’s most decisive scorers in their time, like Carlos Ruíz, Gyasi Zardes, or Dejan Joveljić. Even Billy Sharp had a half season runout to close out 2023.
With talismanic midfielder Riqui Puig missing a second season due to knee injury, the Galaxy used its newly opened DP slot on a striker who, while boasting some cachet around league circles, hasn’t exactly been considered a Galáctico in making. In truth, though, João Klauss may be exactly what they needed after a very disappointing 2025.
In the second minute of MLS’s Sunday matinee, the LA Galaxy pinned New York City FC deep in its own defensive half, earning a throw-in near the corner flag. Some nifty close-quarters passing got the ball to Marco Reus, eight yards from goal to the goalkeeper’s right. As he nears his 37th birthday, Reus’ tried and true instincts kicked in, and he coolly squared the ball to prime striker territory. There was Klauss, who ushered the ball to the far post with his left foot. Just over a minute played, one shot, one goal. First impressions can’t get more efficient.
In many ways, Klauss is a throwback center forward. Listed at 6ft 3in, the 28-year-old was a dangerous aerial presence across St Louis City’s first three seasons before joining the Galaxy via trade for the final year of his current contract. He’s a dangerous pressing forward and good in buildup, playing back to goal and muscling defenders off while his wingers advance. His new running mates, Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec, are arguably the league’s best wing tandem and help ensure the Galaxy can threaten even during Puig’s lengthy absence.
Klauss may not have a lengthy catalogue of golazos like Ibrahimovic or Keane; some of his most memorable goals in St Louis came when he pounced on awful backpasses from opposing defenders. His ability to maximize a relatively low touch volume is vital considering how involved Paintsil and Pec get in transition, aided by Reus’ ability to unpick a defense when he’s available.
There are still issues facing the six-time champions, especially in goal and a lack of depth across several position groups. They ultimately failed to turn Klauss’ opening salvo into three points, as a controversial red call provided NYC FC with an equalizer from the penalty spot. Nonetheless, it was a quick contribution which already cast more optimism than the Galaxy enjoyed for the first few months of 2025.
Friend to foe
There’s the old custom that you shouldn’t celebrate when scoring against your former club…and then there’s Tai Baribo.
The Israel international was dealt by the Union to DC in the offseason, and immediately scored what would be the winning goal in one of the more eyebrow-raising results of the opening weekend. A fun sidenote to this goal that you might have missed unless you were watching this game: Baribo did this twice! He scored what he thought was the opener just eight minutes in and peeled away in celebration only to be stopped by an offside call that ruled the goal out. About 14 minutes later, the real payoff arrived.
