David Beckham watched on as his Inter Miami team were beaten by Los Angeles FC in their inaugural Major League Soccer game.
Former England captain Beckham had a big role in setting up the new MLS team and is one of the owners as well as president of soccer operations.
They had the toughest debut possible, over 2,700 miles away at last year’s regular-season table toppers LAFC.
Carlos Vela scored the only goal with a wonderful chip from 20 yards.
Rodolfo Pizarro was inches away from scoring Inter’s first ever competitive goal but he shot just wide – and Scotland international Lewis Morgan had an effort blocked.
Beckham watched from the directors’ box along with wife Victoria and son Brooklyn.
Inter brought plenty of fans to the game, which was the most in-demand opening MLS match in terms of ticket resale prices in 10 years.
Fellow new side Nashville SC lost 2-1 to Atlanta United on Friday night.
Why does Beckham own an MLS team?
When Beckham joined LA Galaxy from Real Madrid in 2007, part of his contract gave him the option to buy an MLS franchise at a reduced rate in the future.
Beckham exercised that option six years ago but it took several years to get the team up and running because of arguments over a stadium site. The club will have to play 30 miles from Miami until they relocate in 2022.
“There was never a moment when I said I would walk away but there were moments when I thought this might not happen,” Beckham said in a news conference in New York in the past week.
“I have always loved a challenge. I didn’t realise how big a challenge this was going to be, even down to putting tiles in the showers.”
Who are Inter Miami?
Inter Miami – whose full name is Club Internacional de Futbol Miami – will hope to succeed where more than 30 Florida teams have failed including Miami Fusion, who only lasted in MLS from 1998 to 2001.
However, they have already built a big fanbase before even playing a game. Fans eager for a Miami team to support turned up in numbers – with banners, flags and drums – to Inter’s under-13 and under-14 games last season.
The club are not expected to challenge for the title this season after failing to sign any big-name European players in time for the start of the season.
They have signed two of their three permitted designated players – Argentine teenager Matias Pellegrini and Mexico international midfielder Pizarro. Scotland winger Morgan joined from Celtic in January.
Head coach Diego Alonso has won two Concacaf Champions Leagues with Mexican sides.
They played six friendlies, although only two were open to the public, losing 2-1 to Philadelphia Union and beating second-tier Tampa Bay Rowdies 1-0.
Article courtesy of BBC Sport
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