Lionel Messi and Inter Miami drop Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal opener in Vancouver

Doug McIntyre

Soccer Journalist

Vancouver’s storybook run within the Concacaf Champions Cup continues.

The Whitecaps will take a 2-0 mixture lead again to Florida after shutting down Inter Miami and Lionel Messi on Thursday evening within the first leg of the groups’ two-game, all-MLS semifinal sequence.

U.S. males’s nationwide crew ahead Brian White scored within the first half for the Canadian membership in entrance of a sold-out crowd of 53,837 at BC Place, with Sebastian Berhalter including a probably backbreaking second aim with simply 5 minutes of standard time remaining.

The decisive second contest might be performed at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Could 1 (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1), with a spot within the regional last in opposition to the winner of the opposite semi, between Mexican sides Cruz Azul and Tigres, on the road.

Miami should win by a minimum of two objectives subsequent Wednesday simply to take the home-and-home total-goals-wins sequence to additional time.

Play of the sport

Vancouver squandered a number of early probabilities to take the lead in entrance of their dwelling followers, however the Whitecaps made no mistake on White’s tally. It got here following a fast counterattack and a pinpoint cross from Pedro Vite:

Turning level

White’s strike was prettier, however Berhalter’s strike may find yourself figuring out the result. The son of former USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter sealed the ‘Caps triumph on Thursday by slamming a cross from Canadian worldwide Jayden Nelson into the roof of Miami’s web.

Key stat

Regardless of the 2-0 loss, Miami dominated the ball all evening. The guests had 69-percent possession and accomplished greater than twice as many passes because the hosts. Sadly for them, they nonetheless could not breach Vancouver’s again line, with Messi coming the closest on a first-half shot by way of site visitors that went straight into the ready arms of ‘Caps keeper Yohei Takaoka.

What’s subsequent for Inter Miami?

The two,800-mile flight dwelling will appear even longer after giving up the late aim, and the bodily restoration wanted following the journey and 90 minutes on Vancouver’s synthetic turf area will not be straightforward for the Herons’ late 30-something stars Messi, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suárez.

Nonetheless, Miami coach Javier Mascherano will certainly relaxation the previous Barcelona quartet for Sunday’s MLS match in opposition to Dallas. And Inter are greater than able to securing a minimum of a 2-0 win of their very own at dwelling subsequent week.

What’s subsequent for Vancouver?

First, the Whitecaps will rejoice maybe the most important win in membership historical past. Then coach Jesper Sorensen should rapidly refocus his squad for the duty forward subsequent week; like Mascherano, he’ll certainly relaxation his regulars for Sunday’s journey to Minnesota United.

After eliminating Liga MX foes on the highway in every of the final two rounds, the Canadians may have no concern. If they will snag an important away aim early, Vancouver might be properly on its strategy to the finale.

“We won’t get forward of ourselves,” Berhalter mentioned afterward. “We have got yet one more sport…all that issues is that we win and advance to the ultimate.”

Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities who has lined United States males’s and ladies’s nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Observe him @ByDougMcIntyre.