Nathan Ordaz was the focal point of Los Angeles FC’s 1-0 triumph over Inter Miami in the first leg of their quarterfinal CONCACAF Champions Cup match.
Los Angeles-born El Salvadorian international Nathan Ordaz gave LAFC a crucial lead going into the return leg in Florida the following week with a goal in the 57th minute.
Miami and Messi came to Los Angeles as the top Major League Soccer (MLS) team, having gone undefeated in nine games in all competitions since the season began.
However, Los Angeles stepped up their game after the interval and started to cause issues for the visitors right away on Wednesday following a tense first half in which neither team was able to gain the upper hand.
In the 54th minute, LAFC fullback Ryan Hollingshead blasted into the penalty area on the overlap and wasted a fantastic opportunity by shooting well wide of goal.
The crucial breakthrough came three minutes later when Ordaz, a 21-year-old homegrown striker, spun away from Sergio Busquets, a former Barcelona and Spain international, and hammered a low effort into the bottom corner past Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
Making his first start since coming back as a substitute last weekend after a two-week injury break, Argentine sensation Messi found it difficult to establish himself in the match.
Rather, Los Angeles appeared more likely to score in front of a boisterous home crowd of 22,207 spectators at the BMO Stadium, which featured Argentina national team manager Lionel Scaloni, NBA star Stephen Curry, and Miami franchise owner David Beckham.
US international Aaron Long missed a free kick in the 63rd minute, and LAFC midfielder Timothy Tillman was only kept out by a last-ditch goal-line clearance by Miami defender Maxi Falcon.
One of Miami’s few opportunities came in the second half when Falcon glanced a header toward the bottom corner, which LAFC’s former France international goalie Hugo Lloris easily collected.
A wild challenge on Cengiz Under led to Busquets’ booking, an indication of growing Miami annoyance.
Messi’s failure to capitalize on a free-kick in a promising position deep into stoppage time summed up a sad evening for the Argentine, as LAFC held on for a well-earned victory. His shot whistled way over the bar.
