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Lionel Messi’s aspirations of guiding Inter Miami to their first CONCACAF Champions Cup crown came to an end on Wednesday night, as the Vancouver Whitecaps sealed a 3-1 win in Florida to advance to the final with a dominant 5-1 aggregate triumph.
The Canadian side will now await the outcome of the other semi-final between Mexican heavyweights Cruz Azul and Tigres UANL, who are level at 1-1 ahead of their decisive second leg.
Regardless of which Liga MX team reaches the final, Vancouver head into the clash brimming with confidence after dismantling the most high-profile and expensively assembled team in Major League Soccer history.
In stark contrast to Inter Miami’s slow and disjointed performance, Vancouver produced a high-energy display filled with crisp attacking moves, tactical discipline, and sheer determination. Their three second-half goals sealed their place in the final for the first time in the club’s history.
“I’m just so happy for everybody in the club,” said jubilant Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen. “I’m relatively new here, but I know many people have worked hard for years and never experienced a moment like this.”
Having lost 2-0 in the first leg, Inter Miami started brightly in their bid to turn things around. In the ninth minute, Jordi Alba put them in front on the night after Lionel Messi played a clever ball through to Luis Suárez, who in turn set up the Spaniard for a low shot that squeezed past Yohei Takaoka at the near post.
But instead of sitting back to protect their aggregate advantage, Vancouver took the initiative. Brian White led a promising attack that saw Emmanuel Sabbi strike the outside of the post, while White and Pedro Vite forced saves from Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari as the visitors continued to threaten with ease.
Miami’s sluggish midfield and ageing defence struggled to cope with the pace and movement of Vancouver’s frontline.
Messi had a quiet first half, with a speculative effort sent high and wide as his only real contribution. Meanwhile, his compatriot, Tadeo Allende, failed to capitalise on his opportunities.
Six minutes into the second half, Vancouver levelled the match on the night. A well-executed move ended with Sebastian Berhalter cutting the ball back for White to slot home into the bottom corner. Just two minutes later, Berhalter was involved again, finding Vite on the edge of the area. The Ecuadorian’s shot took a slight deflection off Alba and sailed into the top corner, putting the visitors 2-1 up and 4-1 ahead on aggregate.
Miami’s collapse was completed when Berhalter reacted first to a loose ball after White’s shot was blocked, his effort again taking a deflection before flying past Ustari for a third goal on the night. Though Messi had a couple of late chances, the tie was effectively over, with Vancouver’s youthful energy outshining their more experienced opponents.
The only blemish on an otherwise perfect evening for Vancouver was a yellow card for Berhalter, which means he will miss the final due to an accumulation of bookings in the tournament.
For Miami, attention now shifts back to the MLS campaign and preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup. Inter Miami assistant coach Javier Mascherano admitted the defeat was a painful blow for the ambitious club.
“Even though it was the club’s first time in the semi-finals, the loss hurts because we had dreamed of reaching the final—of seeing this team, still in its early years, competing in the most prestigious tournament in CONCACAF,” said Mascherano. “But we must accept that the better side won. Now we need to focus on the MLS. I’m not thinking about the Club World Cup yet. There’s still a month and a half to go, and it would be a mistake to lose focus now.”
Vancouver, meanwhile, have a chance to become the first Canadian club ever to win the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
