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Inter Miami CF head coach Diego Alonso (L) walks with owner David Beckham (C) and Sporting Director and COO Paul McDonough (R), in Florida, U.S., February 25, 2020. /VCG
David Beckham-owned Inter Miami made a disappointing debut in the Major League Soccer (MLS) as the new club lost 1-0 to Los Angeles FC on Sunday. Mexican international striker Carlos Vela was the match-winner for the Los Angeles-based club through a chip in a game dominated by the home side at the Banc of California Stadium.
Inter Miami are the new addition to this year's MLS season, which kicked off on Saturday night. The club has been having a tortuous journey marked by setbacks since former England, Manchester United and Real Madrid star Beckham became the owner of the team in 2014.
Beckham, who played for the MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy in the last few seasons of his professional career, was in the stands on Sunday.
Los Angeles FC forward Carlos Vela (10) celebrates his goal scored against Inter Miami CF with midfielder Latif Blessing (7) and forward Brian Rodriguez (17) during the first half at Banc Of California Stadium. /Reuters
His fellow co-owners of Inter, Jorge and Jose Mas and Marcelo Claure, were also present at the stadium and were greeted by several hundred pink-and-black clad Miami fans.
LAFC dominated the game from the word go and Diego Rossi came close to opening the scoring after only five minutes when his header from Vela's cross was fisted away by Miami goalkeeper Luis Robles. Miami too had a few chances in the game with Lewis Morgan seeing his shot parried away by LAFC's former Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer in the 29th minute. That was Beckham's club's first attempt on the goal. Vermeer was back in action again in the 37th minute as he thwarted a Matias Pellegrini attempt.
However, the Los Angeles side scored the all-important goal when Vela, celebrating his 31st birthday, controlled an aerial cross on his shoulder and maneuvered with it before scooping his finish over Robles's head and into the net. After his side's winning start to the new season, LAFC coach Bob Bradley said, "Miami put a lot into it, but we got just an amazing goal.
"When you come to see football and then the game is determined on a play like that, which was a combination of determination, strength, still having an idea of how to get away, the positioning of the goalkeeper – (for Vela) to finish with that delicate chip was just incredible."
Incidentally, LAFC had another goal disallowed for offside in the opening minute of the second half.
