Galaxy forced to settle for draw against Inter Miami in regular-season opener
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami FC controls the ball against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Robert Taylor #16 of Inter Miami FC controls the ball against Mark Delgado #8 of Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fans look on as Lionel Messi of Inter Miami FC comes out prior to a Major League Soccer match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Inter Miami FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fans watch as Lionel Messi of Inter Miami FC comes out prior to a Major League Soccer match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Inter Miami FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
David Beckham prior to a Major League Soccer match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Inter Miami FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
David Beckham prior to a Major League Soccer match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Inter Miami FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
David Beckham prior to a Major League Soccer match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Inter Miami FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A fans holds up a sign for Lionel Messi of Inter Miami FC prior to a Major League Soccer match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Inter Miami FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fans prior to a Major League Soccer match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Inter Miami FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Luis Suarez #9 of Inter Miami FC controls the ball against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Joseph Paintsil Attacker #28 of Los Angeles Galaxy goes up for the header against Inter Miami FC in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami FC controls the ball against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Luis Suarez #9 of Inter Miami FC reacts towards Edwin Cerrillo #20 of Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Martin Caceres #22 of Los Angeles Galaxy with the header against the Inter Miami FC in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Miki Yamane #2 of Los Angeles Galaxy controls the ball against the Inter Miami FC in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami FC kicks the ball against Martin Caceres #22 of Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami FC controls the ball against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
a fan holds up a sign “Believe” in the first half of a Major League Soccer match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Inter Miami FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami FC smiles against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami FC against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mark Delgado #8 of Los Angeles Galaxy goes up for the header against Inter Miami FC in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Drake Callender Goalkeeper #1 of Inter Miami FC reacts after blocking a Los Angeles Galaxy penalty shot in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami FC against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami FC controls the ball against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami FC controls the ball against Dejan Joveljic #9 of Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Edwin Cerrillo #20 of Los Angeles Galaxy reacts against the Inter Miami FC in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Luis Suarez #9 of Inter Miami FC dribbles the ball against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami FC controls the ball against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami FC controls the ball against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami FC controls the ball against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami FC against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Luis Suarez #9 of Inter Miami FC shoots against goalkeeper John McCarthy #77 of Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Diego Gomez #20 of Inter Miami FC controls the ball against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami FC controls the ball against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
CARSON — Inter Miami’s traveling road show pulled into Dignity Health Sports Park Sunday, met by the glitz and glamour of celebrities, entertainers and athletes.
The marquee also read Galaxy season opener, the first chance to put a dismal 2023 all the way in the rearview mirror.
The fans started arriving early in the day and some were seated hours ahead of kickoff.
Finally, in the 76th minute, the Galaxy had their breakthrough. Dejan Joveljic delivered a simple tap-in of an initial shot by Mark Delgado for a 1-0 lead and eventual win.
The lead lasted until the early moments of stoppage time when Messi, leaving the game to finish 1-1 in front of 27,642 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The Galaxy played the final eight minutes a man down after Mark Delgado picked up his second yellow card.
The Galaxy nearly had the opener in the 10th minute. Joseph Paintsil was fouled inside the 18-yard box, earning the Galaxy a penalty. Riqui Puig stepped up and was denied by Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender.
In the second half, the game opened up and the Galaxy started to find their rhythm. By the 78th minute, Gabriel Pec had made his Galaxy debut, putting both Designated Players on the field together.
This was Inter Miami and Messi’s second trip to Los Angeles. Last September, Inter Miami defeated LAFC 3-1 at BMO Stadium.Inter Miami started the season last Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake.