The wait is over. What started almost seven years ago for Inter Miami’s owners finally came to fruition with the Club’s first-ever Major League Soccer (MLS) match on Sunday, March 1, 2020, against LAFC. The 5:30 p.m. ET kickoff marked the beginning of a new era, something soccer fans in South Florida had been waiting for patiently for years. And what a spectacular venue it was for the historic date. Banc of California Stadium once again demonstrated why its atmosphere is among the best in the league, as 22,121 roaring fans packed into the stadium located in Los Angeles. Chants were sung, supporters jumped and danced to the beat of the drums and, in general, the atmosphere was electric. It was the perfect stage for such a special occasion. It was the first of many soccer-fuelled days for Inter Miami’s loyal fanbase. South Florida, your fútbol is here!
After a brave performance from Inter Miami, hosts LAFC left with a narrow 1-0 victory. Despite the loss, there were many positive takeaways for the Club’s players after the match.
“[I learned] that we have a lot of heart, a lot of fight, and that’s going to be required to make it through the season and really have success,” said goalkeeper and team captain Luis Robles. “You can see that we’re a work in progress, but there’s a lot of encouraging things. This is why the group is so optimistic. It’s our first game and we know that it wasn’t perfect, but nonetheless it was a good team performance and it’s a great place to start with a very high ceiling.”
“We knew it was a complicated match against one of the best teams in MLS. I think we had a good game. Unfortunately, we were unable to finish our chances, but we are going to continue working hard so we can be up there in the first positions,” stated creative midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro.
Pizarro also had words of praise for Club captain Robles, who was selected to the MLS Team of the Week after a strong showing in the team’s first-ever MLS match.
“We know he’s an experienced goalkeeper with a great track record. He’s an important player for our team and we know what he’s capable of,” declared the Mexican international.
For Inter Miami’s MLS debut, hundreds of loyal fans traveled to Los Angeles to support the team. Members of the Club’s recognized supporters’ groups - The Siege, Southern Legion and Vice City 1896 - made the cross-country trip to experience the historic occasion first hand and made their presence felt. The players had messages for the Club’s fanbase, who have been nothing but great with their unconditional support.
“That was really cool, the amount of fans that we have traveling with us. It’s great to have that sort of support. We want to play for them and we want to make them proud. I feel like we did a decent job at doing that today and it’s only going to get better,” expressed Robles.
“I ask them to support us because we are going to continue working hard to give them something to celebrate,” concluded Pizarro.
