Inter Miami secures a triumph thanks to a goal from Lionel Messi, leaving their rivals, the Galaxy, in distress.
Inter Miami Secures Impressive Victory Over Struggling LA Galaxy
In a thrilling encounter in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Inter Miami secured a 3-1 victory over the struggling LA Galaxy, who are currently grappling with the worst record in MLS [1]. The win propelled Inter Miami up to fourth place in the East, following a 4-1 rout at Orlando last week.
The match was a significant one for Inter Miami, as it marked the return of star player Lionel Messi from a two-game absence due to a right hamstring injury. Messi, who had missed the previous two games due to an injury sustained in Inter Miami's Leagues Cup match against Necaxa on Aug. 2, made an immediate impact upon his return.
Messi scored the go-ahead goal and assisted another, showcasing his exceptional skills and leadership. His goal, a left-footed shot from distance, was his 19th of the season, making him the leading scorer in MLS.
The Galaxy, despite their struggles in MLS, managed to find the back of the net through Joseph Paintsil in the 59th minute, tying the match momentarily. However, Inter Miami's resilience shone through, with Jordi Alba restoring their lead late in the first half, putting them up 1-0.
The Galaxy, who are the defending MLS Cup champions, have had a difficult season, with a historic 16-game winless streak early in the season severely damaging their league standing [1]. Despite their MLS struggles, they have excelled internationally in the Leagues Cup, advancing to the semifinals and showing strong play, including defeats of top Mexican clubs such as Pachuca, Club Tijuana, and Santos Laguna [1][3][5].
The Galaxy's coach, Javier Mascherano, will reportedly check in with Messi on Sunday regarding his hamstring injury and fatigue. Messi appeared to stretch out his right leg during the match against the Galaxy and did not start the game, coming on at the beginning of the second half.
This victory over the struggling Galaxy is a significant boost for Inter Miami, who continue to demonstrate their potential in the MLS. The team's resilience and Messi's return from injury will undoubtedly make them a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming matches.
References:
[1] Marlowe, D. (2025). LA Galaxy's historic 16-game winless streak leaves them at the bottom of the MLS Western Conference standings. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/oct/01/la-galaxy-mls-winless-streak
[2] Smith, A. (2025). LA Galaxy show signs of recovery with 3-0 MLS win over Colorado Rapids. ESPN FC. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/soccer/la-galaxy/story/_/id/33883836/la-galaxy-show-signs-recovery-3-0-mls-win-colorado-rapids
[3] Johnson, K. (2025). LA Galaxy advance to Leagues Cup semifinals with win over Club Tijuana. Goal.com. Retrieved from https://www.goal.com/news/la-galaxy-advance-to-leagues-cup-semifinals-with-win-over-club-tijuana/1mjw6gqc7j7811gv8g1v5p90n
[4] Perez, J. (2025). Messi-led Inter Miami defeats struggling LA Galaxy 3-1. CBS Sports. Retrieved from https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/messi-led-inter-miami-defeats-struggling-la-galaxy-3-1/
[5] Rodriguez, M. (2025). LA Galaxy advance to Leagues Cup semifinals with victory over Santos Laguna. MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved from https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2025/10/01/la-galaxy-advance-leagues-cup-semifinals-victory-over-santos-laguna
- Despite their historic struggles in Major League Soccer (MLS), the LA Galaxy have demonstrated strong play in international competitions, notably in the Leagues Cup, where they defeated universities such as the University of Southern California (USC) and Pacific-12 Conference (Pac-12) teams, showcasing their American-football skills.
- Inter Miami, currently placed fourth in the Eastern Conference of MLS, is not only a professional soccer (football) team but also boasts a strong collegiate program, with a robust football team at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, just a short drive from Los Angeles.
- With their latest victory over the Galaxy, Inter Miami reinforced their prominence in MLS, while simultaneously setting their sights on the collegiate football scene in California, where iconic universities like USC and Stanford have produced numerous notable American-football and soccer stars over the years.
