Three takeaways from Miami’s shutout loss

LAFC blanks defending MLS Cup champion Herons 3-0 in front of 75,000 in Los Angeles.

Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga embrace after Bouanga’s goal in LAFC’s 3-0 season-opening win against defending MLS Cup champion Inter Miami. CREDIT: Major League Soccer

Relax, Herons’ fans. Inter Miami’s 3-0 loss to LAFC was Game 1 of 34 in the new Major League Soccer season; there’s a lot of soccer left to play.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t reasons for concern; obviously there are. But there’s also plenty of time for coach Javier Mascherano and captain Lionel Messi to mold MLS’ most talented roster into its most formidable team.

“We clearly know we have a lot to improve,” Mascherano told reporters after Saturday’s match at the sold-out Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. “We need to keep building on the positive things we’ve done, correct the mistakes we made, and keep moving forward.”

A league-record opening day crowd of 75,673 watched the Black & Gold, led by superstars Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga, outshine the Pink & Black’s highly touted, Messi-led eleven. But, despite its many preseason plaudits, Los Garzas is a very different squad in 2026 than the side that lifted the MLS cup in December.

Generational talents Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets retired. Key contributors Baltazar Rodríguez, Oscar Ustari, and Marcelo Weigandt are gone and playoff standouts Rocco Ríos Novo and Tadeo Allende started the season on the bench. Newcomers Dayne St. Clair, Germán Berterame, Sergio Reguilón (injured in a preseason friendly), Micael, David Ayala and Facundo Mura are learning Mascherano’s style and building chemistry with their new teammates.

Obviously, the 2026 Herons remain a work in progress. Based on Saturday’s performance in LA, here’s where that work should be focused:

REBUILDING FROM THE BACK — Alba and Busquets retired after Miami’s championship season, ending the Herons’ “Barca Boys” era at IMCF. They cannot be replaced; without Busi orchestrating play from the back and Alba pushing forward to support Messi, LAFC controlled the midfield and rarely threatened the home side’s goal.

Reguilón is expected to play left back when he returns, and Ayala is the heir apparent in the defensive midfield. Noah Allen started in Alba’s spot Saturday. Another possible solution in Reguilón’s absence is moving Mura to left back and starting Ian Fray on the right, although Fray started ahead of Mura against the Black & Gold.

Yannick Bright started beside DePaul on Saturday; Ayala was available off the bench but didn’t play.

CONFIDENCE IN GOAL — New net minder Dayne St. Claire won MLS Goalkeeper of the Year last year for Minnesota, but Miami plays a far more aggressive defensive style, pressing high and leaving its center backs and keeper vulnerable in transition. The Loons prefer a compact low block, surrounding their goalkeeper with defenders.

St. Claire is undoubtedly a talented player, but he will face more shots and be challenged one-on-one more often wearing the pink than he was in Minnesota. He needs to improve his positioning, make strategic decisions more quickly, and become more adept at dribbling and passing the ball.

His inexperience in the Herons’ system was on full display Saturday, especially on the second goal. St. Claire froze, neither attacking or retreating as a long ball bounced over his head to Bouanga, who scored easily.

If St. Claire doesn’t show improvement, Rocco “Block-o” Rios Novo is waiting.

LOONEY LINEUP — Mascherano got this starting lineup all wrong. The Herons were spectacular in last year’s playoffs using Messi as a false nine with Mateo Silvetti on the left and Allende on the right. Baltasar Rodríguez, Busquets and De Paul helped balance the field in front of wing backs Alba and Fray and center backs Allen and Maxi Falcón.

Saturday, Mascherano chose to go back to a 4-2-3-1, with newcomer Berterame up top, Telasco Segovia and Silvetti on the left and right wings flanking Messi, Miami homegrown players Allen and Fray the wing backs. Micael and Falcón were the center backs.

We already discussed the roster turnover, but Mascherano’s charges would have been more effective with Silvetti on the left wing and Allende on the right. Segovia should play more centrally, and I’d like to see him get a shot in the defensive midfield. He is a more attack-minded midfielder while Bright is a defensive beast. If Ayala is as good as advertised, Bright and Segovia both will be on the bench, but both are valuable pieces to Inter Miami’s puzzle.

I also would have liked to see whether Mura could play on the left ahead of Allen in Reguilón‘s absence with Fray on the right. Or keep Allen as a starter and give Mura the nod over Fray.

Having a deep roster is a luxury in MLS, and multiple options at every position is crucial to any team’s success. Ultimately, lineup debates are a good problem to have.

As the players become more familiar with the system and their new teammates, and Mascherano becomes more familiar with his players, the most effective eleven will emerge. With Miami beginning its CONCACAF Champions Cup campaign next week, I hope that eleven emerges sooner rather than later.

COMING UP

FINAL FRIENDLY — Inter Miami will play Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle at 7 p.m. ET Thursday at Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The friendly match, originally scheduled Feb. 13, was postponed when Messi suffered a minor hamstring pull in preseason to ensure Puerto Rican fans might have a chance to see the international icon play.

SUNSHINE DERBY — The Herons and intrastate rival Orlando City SC meet at 7 p.m. Sunday at Inter & Co. Stadium in Orlando. The Lions, in the midst of a rebuild, lost their home opener, 1-2 Saturday against the New York Red Bulls. While the Purple Pride seem focused on younger talent, they reportedly are in talks to sign star striker Antoine Griezmann, 34, from Spanish side Atlético Madrid.

CHAMPIONS CUP — Inter Miami managing owner Jorge MAs has made it clear winning the region’s continental club cup is the team’s priority in 2026. That quest will begin March 11 in Nashville or Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The Coyotes — Miami’s frequent rivals in high-stakes matches over the past several years, host Atlético Ottawa at 8 p.m. ET tonight leading the two-match tie 2-0. The winner will host the Herons March 11 and visit Chase Stadium for the second leg March 18.