Fri May 02 02:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Whitecaps Stun Messi’s Inter Miami, Advance to Concacaf Champions Cup Final
**Fort Lauderdale, FL** – The Vancouver Whitecaps pulled off a stunning upset Wednesday night, eliminating Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF from the Concacaf Champions Cup with a 3-1 victory in the second leg of their semifinal clash. The win, coupled with their 2-0 victory in the first leg, gave the Whitecaps a commanding 5-1 aggregate victory and a spot in the final.
Inter Miami, needing a three-goal win to advance, briefly held hope when Jordi Alba scored his first goal of the season in the ninth minute. However, Vancouver quickly extinguished any hopes of a comeback. Brian White and Pedro Vite scored two goals within two minutes of each other early in the second half, erasing Miami’s lead. Sebastian Berhalter added a third goal for the Whitecaps in the 71st minute, sealing the victory. Berhalter, despite accumulating yellow cards that will prevent him from playing in the final, was instrumental in the win, directly involved in all five of Vancouver’s goals across the two legs.
Despite the loss, Miami coach Javier Mascherano acknowledged Vancouver’s strong performance, stating, “They have a great team… it’s not always easy for them because they have these players who come in with all the pressure on them.” However, Mascherano also expressed disappointment in his team’s recent performance, noting their three-game losing streak – the first such stretch since Messi’s arrival – and their increased tendency to concede goals. “We need to improve, we have to look forward, we need to learn from this and the last week. Today the feeling is really, really bad,” he said.
The Whitecaps, currently leading the MLS Supporters’ Shield race, will face either Cruz Azul or Tigres UNAL in the Concacaf Champions Cup final on June 1st. Their impressive victory over a star-studded Inter Miami team has cemented their place as a major contender in both the MLS and the Champions Cup.
First Piper 