LAFC vs Inter Miami: Lionel Messi's Side Handed First Defeat of The Season in CONCAF Champions Cup Quarter-Final 1st Leg

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Lionel Messi's Inter Miami were on Wednesday (April 2) night handed their first defeat of the season by Los Angeles FC, who registered an upset 1-0 victory in the first-leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final clash at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

Messi and Luis Suarez drew a blank as a 57th-minute strike from Los Angeles-born El Salvador international Nathan Ordaz handed LAFC a precious advantage heading into next week's return leg in Florida.

Inter Miami carried an unbeaten record of nine games across all competitions this season, but after a cagey first half that saw neither side manage to get on top, Los Angeles raised their intensity after the break and immediately began causing problems for the visitors.

LAFC fullback Ryan Hollingshead squandered a golden chance in the 54th minute, blasting his shot well wide of goal after bursting into the penalty area on the overlap.

They made the all-important breakthrough three minutes later with the 21-year-old homegrown striker Ordaz spinning away from former Barcelona and Spain international Sergio Busquets and thumping a low shot into the bottom corner past Miami keeper Oscar Ustari.

Argentine superstar Messi, making his first start since returning as a substitute last weekend following a two-week injury layoff, struggled to gain a foothold in the contest.

Instead it was Los Angeles who looked likeliest to score in front of a raucous home crowd of 22,207 fans at the BMO Stadium that included NBA superstar Stephen Curry, Miami team owner David Beckham and Argentina national team manager Lionel Scaloni.

US international Aaron Long headed just over from a free-kick in the 63rd minute, while moments later a desperate goal-line block from Inter Miami defender Maxi Falcon denied LAFC midfielder Timothy Tillman from doubling their lead.

At the other end, Falcon had one of Miami's few chances in the second half, glancing a header towards the bottom corner that LAFC's former France international goalkeeper Hugo Lloris gathered comfortably.

Messi's night was summed up by his failure to make the most of a free-kick in a promising position deep into stoppage time, with the Argentine sending his shot whistling well over the bar as LAFC held on for a deserved victory.

Now, Messi and Inter Miami will be keen to bounce back when they host Los Angeles FC at the Chase Stadium next Wednesday (April 9) for the second leg of the CONCAF Champions Cup quarter-final. Before that, Miami will host Toronto FC in the MLS on Sunday (April 6).