David Beckham and Phil Neville’s dream Inter Miami start ruined by Manchester United old boy Javier Hernandez as LA Galaxy striker scores twice to secure dramatic opening-day MLS win in first game at new stadium
- Inter Miami and LA Galaxy got their MLS seasons underway on Sunday evening
- It was Phil Neville’s first game in charge of Inter and the first at their new stadium
- Gonzalo Higuain scored for the hosts before Javier Hernandez bagged a brace
- Sacha Kljestan scored the winner to hand Galaxy a winning start to the campaign
Javier Hernandez was an un-invited guest to Inter Miami’s Manchester United reunion on Sunday, gatecrashing Phil Neville’s debut to secure LA Galaxy victory in their MLS opener.
Neville was appointed in January to lead the team co-owned by former Old Trafford United team-mate David Beckham – but it was another of Alex Ferguson’s former stars who stole the show, bagging a double for the visitors.
It was also the first game at Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium, with seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady among the spectators.
Javier Hernandez scored twice as David Beckham’s old club LA Galaxy beat Inter Miami
The Beckhams attended alongside stars such as Tom Brady as their new stadium opened
Phil Neville made a losing start to his stint at Miami, ruined by a fellow ex-Man United star
Robbie Robinson scored the first goal of the Neville era in first-half stoppage time after Gonzalo Higuain unselfishly squared the ball to him.
Hernandez equalised just after the hour mark with a neat touch and finish from substitute Ethan Zubak’s pass but Higuain’s penalty restored Miami’s lead after Jorge Villafana fouled Rodolfo Pizarro.
Hernandez equalised once more though, from point-blank range after Zubak’s glancing header was tipped away, and Sacha Kljestan clipped in an 81st-minute winner.
Gonzalo Higuain had helped put Inter ahead before Galaxy came from behind to take the win
Hernandez was the less successful of the former United players in the arena but stole the show
Neville was a first-team coach at United while Hernandez was playing at Old Trafford, having been brought into the staff by David Moyes.
Despite his knowledge of the striker Neville’s side couldn’t stop Hernandez, who only scored once in the MLS last season after joining in January from Sevilla.
The 32-year-old has already doubled that goal tally this season after one game, and will hope to help Galaxy improve on a disappointing 10th last season.
