Inter Miami 2-3 LA Galaxy: result, goals, summary MLS 2021

Dramatic MLS 2021 season opener and Chicharito the hero for LA Galxay with a brace.

The whistle sounds and LA Galaxy take the points back the West Coast !

Free for Miami in the final minute...Fede Higuain to take... Last gasp stuff for Miami as the ball falls to Figal and the Argentine heads into the side netting.

Guediri on for Pizarro

Both coaches scream final advice at their side as LA doe their best to wind the clock down.

Beckham watches on with 5 minutes of time to be added as Dunbar almost makes it 2-4 and McCarthy does well to steer the ball past the post. Corner LA.

It's the men from LA who look the stronger side was we head into the final minute of normal time

What a twist here in Florida as the Galaxy take the lead.  Just over five minutes for Miami to try and draw level as Higuain looks to try and make some headway.

Now it's the Galaxy in the ascendancy with Inter Miami pegged back inside their own half.

Final water break of the game as the clock ticks down. Chicharito on a hat-trick now as Galaxy make another change. Vazquez off with Dunbar on

Sub LA - Sacha Kljestan on for Dos Santos

Poor from McCartjy who spills and the Mexican striker is on hand to tap home.

Gooooool ...Galaxy draw level and it's Chicharito again to fire the LA side level.

Fede Higuain (Gonzalo's brother) on for Miami and the Argentine replacing Morgan

20' left here in Florida with Galaxy's parity lasting only a handful of minutes. A well taken spot kick from Higuain who is now on a goal and assist for the evening.

Villafaña the culprit for Galaxy as the VAR official is to deliver the definitive decision.

Pizarro fouled in the box and the ref points to the spot

Jones carded for a rash challenge

An hour of action gone in Florida and still no major response from LA with McCarthy's goal still not under major danger from the men in black and green.

Jones carded for a rash challenge

Galaxy change: Harvey and Zubak on Grandsir and Saldana off

Great link-up play again from Pizarro, Higuain and Robinson as the striker drives on target and sees his effort deflected for a corner.

Figal does well for Miami to snuff out a Galaxy foray into the home box. Better start from the visiting side ...

Second half poised to commence. Inter Miami start the action

Inter Miami just about deserve their lead after the first 45'. There have been some bright spells from LA Galaxy but McCarthy in the Inter Miami goal has yet to be tested. Pizarro very much the standout player after the first 45 minutes that saw the tempo dip off as the half wore on.

The whistle sounds and its the home side who head in a goal to the good at the break.

Alan Kelly in the VAR booth gives the goal.

VAR may take a look at the position of Higuain....

We'll have 3 minutes of added on time.

Pace and standard has dipped in the past few minutes with the heat no doubt taking its toll on the players who will look forward to a respite as Morgan once again is foiled by DePuy with a great intervention to deprive the Miami man.

The ball is whipped in but just whistles wide of the post as we head towards the interval. Miami on top but both Higuain and Pizarro will need to be sharper in front of the target.

Matuidi is on the touchline getting attention and may need replacing.

Jones is shoved by Fisher and Miami win a dangerous free close to the LA Galaxy dead ball line.

Galaxy's passing is crisp and composed at times but it's the final ball that is the undoing for the LA side at present. Chicharito has been quiet this evening and not really getting the service he would want.

Back underway in Fort Lauderdale...

Time for a refreshment break with temperatures in the 30's here in Florida. Inter Miami have created the better chances of the night.

Bond saves from a sweet Higuain left footed curler. Best chance for Miami so far tonight.

Fine run from Robinson but the Miami man is checked and wins a free for the home side.

Pizarro once again in the thick of it for Miami but once again the Mexican unable to get his shot on target.

David Beckham salutes the fans ahead of today's action

Tom Brady is in the house today !

Higuain gets a shot off but Bond is on hand to tip the effort away. Tame strike from the Argentine.

Villafaña goes down and looks to have developed a muscular issue. Game held up as the defender may need medical attention.

Higuan breaks into the area and just as he was poised to strike a fine intervention from DePuy deprives the striker.

Ball falls to Pizarro after decent work from Higuain but the Mexican gets under the ball and Galaxy can breath easy.

Inter Miami now starting to look for the killer pass to carve open the Galaxy back-line. The home side in the ascendancy now as we move towards the 20 minute mark.

La Familia MCF making great noise this evening which is so good to hear

The Mexican opting for one black and one white boot tonight which is somewhat eye catching !

Still neither keeper really called into action as we head towards the 15 minute mark. Miami's Pizarro looking bright for the home side so far.

Pizarro breaks for Miami and stumbles on the edge of the box and immediately looks for a foul. Nothing doing says the referee.

Better from the Galaxy now as the move the ball around with plenty of verve.

LA break and a long ball looks for Chicarito but the Mexican striker is muscled out and Miami regain possession.

Good work from Miami as they win the first corner of the night.

Miami's Gonzalez-Pirez carded within the opening minute for a rash challenge

LA Galaxy in their away 'Community' shirt today

One of our Top 5 MLS kits of the new season

Off we go, LA Galaxy start the action

So great to see a decent presence of fans at the DRV PNK Stadium today with approximately 8,000 fans in the stand.

A very warm Fort Lauderdale day for the 2021 M LS opener with a current temperature of 30C/86F

Just 2 goals from Chicharito last season albeit with injury hampering his campaign. Plenty of attention on the Mexican this season with much expectation on the Galaxy.

Today's game is a sell-out at the stadium in Fort Lauderdale with the home fans decked out in pink and black. A small number of LA Galaxy fans too are present in Florida to see their side in action. 

Confirmation from MLS that tonight's game will in fact start at 15:23 ET/21:23 CEST

Still awaiting kick-off in Miami. As is the case, MLS games tend to commence some 7/9 minutes after the advertised time.

You can follow live coverage of Inter Miami-LA Galaxy in Spanish here

Para seguir el partido con comentarios en Español pincha aqui

Neville MLS debut

This will be Inter Miami’s second season in MLS, they finished tenth in their debut season and will be hoping to improve on that position under new coach Phil Neville – Beckham's old Manchester United and England team mate. Neville’s previous coaching experience was as manager of England Women’s national team but this will be his first game stateside.

Inter Miami's Blaise Matuidi was in the news earlier this week

MLS deemed Inter Miami were not roster compliant in 2020 after prising Blaise Matuidi from Juventus.

Full story

The LA Galaxy XI:

and we have the starting XI's...first up the home side:

Kick-off looming but still no confirmed team news ....

A look at today's opening day MLS results

There will be a decent away presence from Galaxy fans at the Fort Lauderdale stadium tonight with a reduced number of fans permitted as a covid precaution.

The glam and the glitz descended on Miami on Friday night as the new MLS franchise held a 2021 season opening party with the likes of Future, Timbaland, Kim Karshadian andPharrell Williams in town for the event.

LA Galaxy:

Galaxy also have a new coach and have also been tweaking their roster. Head coach Greg Vanney is at the helm following Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s departure in October. A few of the older players have since moved on - Cristián Pavón, Joe Corona, David Bingham and Emiliano Insua have left. New arrivals include winger Samuel Grandsir, signed from Monaco, centre-back Derrick Williams who was brought in from Blackburn Rovers and goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, formerly the second-choice at West Brom. The 2021 Galaxy roster is a blend of experienced players like Chicharito and Jonathan dos Santos and younger players including 21-year-old French winger Kevin Cabral.

Inter Miami

Miami have been busy rebuilding their roster since last season and have several new additions, such as 27-year-old Brazilian midfielder Gregore, Surinam international right-back Kelvin Leerdam, signed from Seattle Sounders but with experience of playing in Europe with Feyenoord and Vitesse and veteran English defender Ryan Shawcross, a product of Manchester United’s youth academy. As for the more familiar faces in the squad, Gonzalo Higuaín and Blaise Matuidi need no introduction.

This weekend’s opening fixtures of the 2021 MLS regular season continue on Sunday with an appetising meeting between David Beckham’s Inter Miami and his old club Los Angeles Galaxy who go head-to-head in Florida. This will be Inter Miami’s second season in MLS, they finished tenth in their debut season and will be hoping to improve on that position under new coach Phil Neville – Beckham's old Manchester United and England team mate. Neville’s previous coaching experience was as manager of England Women’s national team but this will be his first game stateside.

Hello and welcome to Inter Miami- LA Galaxy, first game of both teams in new MLS season, that will be played Sunday April 18th at DRVPNK Stadium. Phil Neville will make his first appearance as Inter Miami's new coach, and Greg Vanney in LA Galaxy.