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David Beckham watched on as his Inter Miami team were beaten by Los Angeles FC in their inaugural Major League Soccer game.
Former England captain Beckham had a big role in setting up the new MLS team and is one of the owners as well as president of soccer operations.
They had the toughest debut possible, over 2,700 miles away at last year’s regular-season table toppers LAFC.
Carlos Vela scored the only goal with a wonderful chip from 20 yards.
Rodolfo Pizarro was inches away from scoring Inter’s first ever competitive goal but he shot just wide – and Scotland international Lewis Morgan had an effort blocked.
Beckham watched from the directors’ box along with wife Victoria and son Brooklyn.
Inter brought plenty of fans to the game, which was the most in-demand opening MLS match in terms of ticket resale prices in 10 years.
Fellow new side Nashville SC lost 2-1 to Atlanta United on Friday night.
Why does Beckham own an MLS team?
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When Beckham joined LA Galaxy from Real Madrid in 2007, part of his contract gave him the option to buy an MLS franchise at a reduced rate in the future.
Beckham exercised that option six years ago but it took several years to get the team up and running because of arguments over a stadium site. The club will have to play 30 miles from Miami until they relocate in 2022.
“There was never a moment when I said I would walk away but there were moments when I thought this might not happen,” Beckham said in a news conference in New York in the past week.
“I have always loved a challenge. I didn’t realise how big a challenge this was going to be, even down to putting tiles in the showers.”
Who are Inter Miami?
Inter Miami – whose full name is Club Internacional de Futbol Miami – will hope to succeed where more than 30 Florida teams have failed including Miami Fusion, who only lasted in MLS from 1998 to 2001.
However, they have already built a big fanbase before even playing a game. Fans eager for a Miami team to support turned up in numbers – with banners, flags and drums – to Inter’s under-13 and under-14 games last season.
The club are not expected to challenge for the title this season after failing to sign any big-name European players in time for the start of the season.
They have signed two of their three permitted designated players – Argentine teenager Matias Pellegrini and Mexico international midfielder Pizarro. Scotland winger Morgan joined from Celtic in January.
Head coach Diego Alonso has won two Concacaf Champions Leagues with Mexican sides.
- Read more about the new club here
They played six friendlies, although only two were open to the public, losing 2-1 to Philadelphia Union and beating second-tier Tampa Bay Rowdies 1-0.
Line-ups
Los Angeles Football Club
Substitutes
Inter Miami CF
Substitutes
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Los Angeles Football Club 1, Inter Miami CF 0.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Los Angeles Football Club 1, Inter Miami CF 0.
Corner, Los Angeles Football Club. Conceded by Christian Makoun.
Attempt saved. Lee Nguyen (Inter Miami CF) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Román Torres.
Foul by Jordan Harvey (Los Angeles Football Club).
Rodolfo Pizarro (Inter Miami CF) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Offside, Inter Miami CF. Juan Agudelo tries a through ball, but Robbie Robinson is caught offside.
Foul by Brian Rodríguez (Los Angeles Football Club).
Nicolás Figal (Inter Miami CF) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Los Angeles Football Club. Eduard Atuesta tries a through ball, but Diego Rossi is caught offside.
Tristan Blackmon (Los Angeles Football Club) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Ben Sweat (Inter Miami CF).
Substitution
Substitution, Los Angeles Football Club. Bryce Duke replaces Latif Blessing because of an injury.
Attempt saved. Ben Sweat (Inter Miami CF) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
Foul by Latif Blessing (Los Angeles Football Club).
Lee Nguyen (Inter Miami CF) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Los Angeles Football Club. Conceded by Luis Robles.
Attempt saved. Diego Rossi (Los Angeles Football Club) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Latif Blessing with a through ball.
Corner, Los Angeles Football Club. Conceded by Lee Nguyen.
Offside, Los Angeles Football Club. Brian Rodríguez tries a through ball, but Carlos Vela is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Eddie Segura (Los Angeles Football Club) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Eduard Atuesta (Los Angeles Football Club) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Juan Agudelo (Inter Miami CF) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Brian Rodríguez (Los Angeles Football Club) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Juan Agudelo (Inter Miami CF).
Booking
Jordan Harvey (Los Angeles Football Club) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution
Substitution, Inter Miami CF. Christian Makoun replaces Matías Pellegrini.
Substitution
Substitution, Inter Miami CF. Juan Agudelo replaces Lewis Morgan.
Attempt missed. Román Torres (Inter Miami CF) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Matías Pellegrini with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Inter Miami CF. Conceded by Diego Rossi.
Substitution
Substitution, Los Angeles Football Club. José Cifuentes replaces Francisco Ginella.
Hand ball by Brian Rodríguez (Los Angeles Football Club).
Corner, Inter Miami CF. Conceded by Jordan Harvey.
Attempt blocked. Lewis Morgan (Inter Miami CF) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Corner, Inter Miami CF. Conceded by Jordan Harvey.
Attempt blocked. Robbie Robinson (Inter Miami CF) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Wil Trapp.
Jordan Harvey (Los Angeles Football Club) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lewis Morgan (Inter Miami CF).
Attempt missed. Diego Rossi (Los Angeles Football Club) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Brian Rodríguez with a through ball.
Attempt saved. Brian Rodríguez (Los Angeles Football Club) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Tristan Blackmon.
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