Vancouver Whitecaps Stun Inter Miami, Advance to Champions Cup Final

The Vancouver Whitecaps stunned Inter Miami and Lionel Messi, advancing to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final with a 3-1 win in the second leg.

The Vancouver Whitecaps stunned Inter Miami and Lionel Messi, advancing to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final with a dominant 3-1 win in the second leg, securing a 5-1 aggregate victory. Inter Miami's dreams of claiming their first Champions Cup title were dashed, despite Jordi Alba's ninth-minute goal. The Whitecaps' Brian White equalized in the 51st minute, followed by Pedro Vite's deflected shot in the 53rd minute, and Sebastian Berhalter sealed the win with a goal in the 71st minute.

The Whitecaps' victory marks a historic moment for the club, becoming the first Canadian team to reach the final of the rebranded CONCACAF Champions Cup. They will face the winner of the Cruz Azul vs Tigres UANL semi-final, currently tied 1-1 ahead of the second leg. The final is scheduled for June 1, and the Whitecaps will have to reschedule their match against the Portland Timbers to accommodate the championship game.

The Whitecaps will enter their Liga MX final matchup with confidence, having outplayed Major League Soccer's most hyped team. Vancouver's crisp and attacking football starkly contrasted with Miami's slow pace, as they secured a decisive 3-0 win in the second half.

“We delivered grit and determination,” Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen said, expressing pride in his team's performance. “I'm just so happy for everybody in the club,” he added, acknowledging the hard work and dedication that led to this moment. Sorensen noted many in the club had worked tirelessly for years to reach this stage.

Inter Miami made a promising start to their comeback attempt, with Jordi Alba scoring in the ninth minute. Luis Suarez received a pass from Lionel Messi, finding Alba on the left, who then scored with a low drive past Yohei Takaoka.

WE'RE OFF TO THE SHOW! 🏆

'Caps are @TheChampions Finals bound for the first time in history 😭#VWFC | #ConcaChampions pic.twitter.com/Kyc6s1CNAO

— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) May 1, 2025

Instead of defending their one-goal lead, Vancouver took an attacking approach, recognizing the potential importance of an away goal. The Whitecaps created scoring opportunities, including a notable chance for Emmanuel Sabbi, whose low drive hit the post after good work from Brian White.

Vancouver's attack proved relentless, with Brian White and Pedro Vite posing significant threats to Miami's defense. White and Vite both tested goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, exploiting Miami's vulnerabilities with ease.

The Whitecaps' speed and intelligence proved too much for Miami's slow defense and midfield, as coach Jesper Sorensen's tactics paid off. Vancouver's superior pace and movement left Miami struggling to keep up.

Lionel Messi had limited impact in the first half, firing a half-chance high and wide. His teammate Tadeo Allende also struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

Vancouver maintained their attacking approach after halftime and were rewarded in the 51st minute. Sebastian Berhalter pulled the ball back from the byline to Brian White, who scored with a precise shot into the bottom corner. Just two minutes later, the Whitecaps sealed the win when Berhalter set up Pedro Vite, whose shot deflected off Jordi Alba and flew into the top corner, making it 2-1 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate.

Miami's struggles continued as Sebastian Berhalter scored again, pouncing on a loose ball after a blocked shot from Brian White. The deflected effort flew past Oscar Ustari, further sealing the win for Vancouver.

Lionel Messi had a couple of late attempts, but it was too little, too late. The defeat was a significant blow to Miami's aspirations. “Although it was the first time the club had advanced to the semi-finals, the defeat hurts us a lot because we imagined reaching the final,” said coach Javier Mascherano. “We have to accept that our opponents outplayed us. Now we have to focus on MLS.” Mascherano added that he wouldn't focus on the FIFA Club World Cup just yet, given the time left before the tournament.