LOS ANGELES -- Inter Miami's defense of its MLS Cup title began with a 3-0 defeat to LAFC at the LA Coliseum on Saturday. In a battle between MLS' two brightest stars in front of the second-highest attendance in league history of 75,673, it was LAFC's Son Heung-Min who came out on top against Lionel Messi.

Son, MLS' record signing, made an impactful start to his first full season in Los Angeles, laying on an assist for David Martínez to score the game's opening goal in the 37th minute. Miami pressed for an equalizer for much of the second half before being hit by a sucker punch as LAFC doubled its lead. Timothy Tillman played a long pass over the top of the Miami defense and new goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair was left stranded outside his penalty area to allow Denis Bouanga to take the ball round him and slot into an empty net.

After Son was taken off late on to a rapturous ovation, his replacement, Nathan Ordaz, added a third goal in stoppage-time from Bouanga's cross. Messi, playing his first competitive game of a year where he is likely to lead Argentina's defense of its World Cup title, struggled to make his usual impact. His clearest sight of goal came in first-half stoppage time but the 38-year-old just missed the target as he looked to place a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.