Nathan Ordaz scored in the 57th minute, and Los Angeles FC kept Lionel Messi off the scoresheet Wednesday night in a 1-0 victory over Inter Miami in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal matchup.
Messi had produced a goal (5) or an assist (2) in each of his first six Champions Cup appearances since joining Miami two years ago, including three goals in the early rounds of this year’s tournament.
After returning from injury only last weekend, Messi played the entire match in Los Angeles. He put two of his five shots on target, but Hugo Lloris stopped both chances.
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The clubs meet again in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, April 9, for the second leg of the quarterfinal.
The aggregate winner advances to the semifinals to face MLS‘ Vancouver Whitecaps or Liga MX’s Pumas, who played to a 1-1 draw in their first leg.
The 21-year-old Ordaz put LAFC ahead when he eluded Sergio Busquets and hammered a swift shot into the bottom corner of the Herons’ net from well outside the penalty area.
The promising homegrown player and Los Angeles native also scored against Columbus in a Champions Cup match last month.
Ordaz had narrowly avoided a red card in the first half when he became entangled with Maxi Falcón. The Uruguayan defender went down from what Miami felt was a punch by Ordaz, who was given only a yellow upon video review.
LAFC, which finished as the runner-up in this tournament in 2020 and 2023, ended its 0-4-1 skid over the previous 3 1/2 weeks with a strong performance on both ends against powerhouse Miami, which leads the MLS standings at 4-0-1.
The 37-year-old Messi has been slowed in recent weeks by an adductor injury, forcing him to miss duties with the Argentine national team last month. But he returned to MLS play last Saturday with a goal as a substitute in Miami’s win over Philadelphia, and he was in the Herons’ starting lineup in Los Angeles.
Messi took two free kicks in dangerous areas in the first half, but he sailed his first over the bar and sent the second directly to Lloris.
He had a good chance in the 80th minute, but his quick turnaround shot above the penalty area was also too high. He fired another low shot at Lloris in the 86th minute, and the French keeper smothered it after a bobble.
Messi earned one last free kick off a foul on a dribble in second-half injury time, but also sailed it high.
The packed crowd included NBA great Stephen Curry, whose Golden State Warriors play the Lakers on Thursday night.
LAFC vs. Inter Miami CONCACAF Champions Cup Highlights | FOX Soccer
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