An open start to the match saw both sides creating chances, with Inter Miami urged on by a raucous crowd. In the eighth minute, Lewis Morgan delivered a left-footed free kick from deep in the left half-space that found Ryan Shawcross at the back post, whose volley from a tight angle went over.
In the 15th minute, however, D.C. won the ball high up the field and a quick touch from Russell Canouse played the ball to Ola Kamara, who curled a strike into the far corner of the net from the left side of the box.
The visitors doubled their lead in the 22nd minute; Adrien Pérez delivered a cross from the left wing into Paul Arriola in the box, who connected with the pass and fired a shot from a tight angle that found the inside of the far post for a goal and a 0-2 lead.
Inter Miami responded in the 33rd with perhaps its best opportunity of the half when Gregore hit a ball over the top to Morgan in behind the defense. The Scottish winger tracked down the pass and hit a cross from the endline that found Julián Carranza in front of the goalkeeper, whose header went just wide of the far post.
A challenging first half came to a close without a goal-scoring response from Inter Miami, resulting in a 0-2 deficit at halftime. The team opened the second half with one substitution, bringing on Brek Shea for Victor Ulloa.
The opening moments of the second half saw Gonzalo Higuaín strike a powerful effort from well outside of the box that went just over the bar.
The hosts made a triple change in the 61st minute as they sought to turn the tide. Federico Higuaín, Jay Chapman and Kelvin Leerdam came on for Carranza, Blaise Matuidi and Makoun, respectively. The changes nearly paid immediate dividends as a corner delivery from Federico Higuaín was deflected to the feet of Nicolás Figal, whose shot at the near post drew a reaction save in the 64th minute.
In the 71st minute, however, D.C. built on its lead as Arriola delivered an impressive cross to Kamara at the back post, whose header found the back of the net to make it 0-3.
Inter Miami made one final change, bringing on Edison Azcona for Joevin Jones, but was unable to fight its way back into the match, falling to a disappointing loss.
Inter Miami will enter a three-week break from competitive action before returning on June 19 at 8 p.m. ET for a rematch with D.C. United when it travels to Audi Field.