Vancouver Whitecaps beat Inter Miami 3-1 to eliminate Lionel Messi's squad
Image | CONCACAF Vancouver Inter Miami Soccer Lionel Messi
Caption: Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) reacts after missing a shot during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup second-leg semifinal soccer match against the Vancouver Whitecaps, on Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Messi's squad was dumped out of the competition by the ascendant Whitecaps. (Lynne Sladky/The Associated Press)
Brian White and Pedro Vite scored two minutes apart, and the Vancouver Whitecaps stunned Inter Miami 3-1 in the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal on Wednesday night, spoiling Lionel Messi's squad's hopes of making the tournament's final.
Sebastian Berhalter also scored for Vancouver, which advanced with a 5-1 aggregate scoreline to face either Cruz Azul or Tigres UNAL in the Champions Cup final on June 1.
For Vancouver, the final will represent one of the biggest matches in the club's history, with the winner of the final set to play in the expanded Club World Cup. They had previously only made it as far as the semifinal in 2017.
Miami entered Wednesday's match trailing 0-2 in aggregate after being shut out in the first leg last Thursday. That meant they needed to win by at least three goals in regulation on Wednesday to advance.
WATCH | Whitecaps shut out Messi and Miami in 1st leg:
Media Video | Whitecaps defeat Messi and Inter Miami 2-0 in 1st leg of CONCACAF semi
Caption: The Vancouver Whitecaps came out on top in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal Thursday, with a 2-0 win against Inter Miami FC. As Yasmine Ghania reports, it was also a great night for fans who got to watch soccer royalty.
Open Full Embed in New Tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages.
Messi was held without a goal for the fourth straight match.
In the tournament's history, four MLS clubs, including Inter Miami last week, have lost the first leg of a semifinal by a 2-0 scoreline on the road. No team has come back to advance to the final.
Those chances were dashed quickly in the second half Wednesday, when Vancouver erased a one-goal deficit minutes into the frame.
Image | CONCACAF Vancouver Inter Miami Soccer Sebastian Berhalter
Caption: Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter (16) celebrates after scoring the third goal of the game. The in-form Berhalter will miss the final after accumulating one too many yellow cards. (Lynne Sladky/The Associated Press)
Open Image in New Tab
Berhalter found White for the equalizer in the 51st minute, and Vite sent a deflection past Oscar Ustari in the 53rd. Berhalter, who had an assist on the first two goals, put the game away with a shot from the center of the box into the bottom left corner in the 71st.
Berhalter has accounted for all five of the Whitecaps' goals in the semis after scoring one in the opener, but he will miss the championship because of yellow card accumulation. He was shown one in the first half after a foul on Miami's Tadeo Allende.
Jordi Alba got Miami on the board with his first goal of the season, nine minutes into the game, on a feed from Luis Suarez. Miami couldn't capitalize on a series of chances after that.
The CONCACAF Champions Cup features the best teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean to crown a regional champion.
building its own stadium even as its current ownership group prepares to sell the club.
Miami also dropped its third straight match, the first time the team has lost that many in a row in the Messi era.
A record crowd of over 53,000 watched striker Brian White and midfielder Sebastian Berhalter score in Vancouver's opening-game win against Messi and Miami at B.C. Place Stadium last Thursday.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Toronto Sun
44 minutes ago
- Toronto Sun
MLS beats Liga MX 3-1 in All-Star Game
MLS and Liga MX continue their rivalry with the Leagues Cup that begins on July 29 and concludes Aug. 31. Published Jul 24, 2025 • 2 minute read MLS All-Stars' Sam Surridge, centre, celebrates with teammates after his goal against Liga MX All-Stars during the MLS All-Star soccer match in Austin, Texas, Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. AUSTIN, Texas — Sam Surridge, Tai Baribo and Brian White scored goals and Major League Soccer defeated Liga MX of Mexico 3-1 in the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday night playing without Lionel Messi. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Messi and his Inter Miami teammate, Jordi Alba, both face possible league suspensions for their team's next match against Cincinnati on Saturday for missing the All-Star game. 'Messi's the greatest,' MLS coach Nico Estevez said. 'Playing with him and coaching him would be something amazing. But we have to show respect for the guys that showed up today. They did great. It's a special week, a unique event. Not everyone can enjoy this. I'm fortunate.' Liga MX's James Rodriguez also chose not to play in the game played in front of more than 20,000 fans at Q2 Stadium. MLS has defeated Liga MX three times in four tries. Last year Liga MX won 4-1 in Columbus, Ohio. The MLS All-Stars won in 2022 and beat Liga MX on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw a year prior. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Messi has yet to appear in an MLS All-Star Game. He missed the game last year with an injury. Messi is currently tied with Nashville's Surridge for the MLS lead in goals with 18. Surridge scored another goal on Wednesday, from the middle of the box, heading in to the lower right corner a ball directed by LAFC's Denis Bouanga in the 28th minute. The opportunity developed after Bouanga had a point-blank attempt stopped by Liga MX goalkeeper Luis Malagon (Club America). Bouanga hustled to retrieve the long rebound and sent it to Surridge. Before the goal, both teams had attempts rejected with diving stops by Luis Malagon and Austin FC's Brad Stuver in the 13th and 18th minutes. MLS went ahead 2-0 in the 51st minute when Diego Rossi (Columbus) passed ahead to Baribo (Philadelphia), whose right footed shot from the center of the box made it to the lower left corner of the goal. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Liga MX closed the gap to 2-1 just 13 minutes later when Gilberto Mora (Club Tijuana) converted a pass from Elias Montiel (Pachuca) from the middle of the box. 'We had moments when we played good soccer,' Liga MX coach Andre Jardine said. Liga MX's bid to tie the match was snubbed when a shot by Diber Cambindo (Necaxa) was stopped by Yohei Takaoka (Vancouver) in the 75th minute. White (Vancouver) finished the scoring in the 80th minute. Baribo ranks fourth in MLS with 14 goals and White has scored 11 as they chase Messi and Surridge. 'They are competitive,' Estevez said. 'One scores and the other says 'I have to score.' Brian in the end said 'I have to score.' ' Up next MLS and Liga MX continue their rivalry with the Leagues Cup that begins on July 29 and concludes Aug. 31. The competition features a new format, with all 18 clubs from Liga MX and the top 18 from MLS competing. Last year all 47 clubs from the two leagues were included. Sports Golf Ontario Canada Canada


Winnipeg Free Press
44 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Wolves signs Colombia forward Jhon Arias from Fluminense
WOLVERHAMPTON, Englans (AP) — Premier League side Wolverhampton has completed the signing of Colombia forward Jhon Arias from Brazilian club Fluminense on a four-year deal, with the option of a further 12 months. The 27-year-old Arias impressed at the Club World Cup this summer, helping Fluminense reach the semifinals. Financial terms were not disclosed. According to the BBC, Wolves signed him for an initial 15 million pounds ($20 million) plus a further 4 million pounds in add-ons, which includes European qualification. FILE - Fluminense's Jhon Arias (21) competes for the ball during the Club World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Fluminense and Al Hilal, July 4, 2025 in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, file) Arias, who has won 31 caps, is Wolves' second signing of the summer following attacking midfielder Fer Lopez from Spanish La Liga side Celta Vigo on a five-year contract. ___ AP soccer:


Edmonton Journal
44 minutes ago
- Edmonton Journal
MLS beats Liga MX 3-1 in All-Star Game
Article content AUSTIN, Texas — Sam Surridge, Tai Baribo and Brian White scored goals and Major League Soccer defeated Liga MX of Mexico 3-1 in the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday night playing without Lionel Messi. Article content Messi and his Inter Miami teammate, Jordi Alba, both face possible league suspensions for their team's next match against Cincinnati on Saturday for missing the All-Star game. Article content Article content Article content 'Messi's the greatest,' MLS coach Nico Estevez said. 'Playing with him and coaching him would be something amazing. But we have to show respect for the guys that showed up today. They did great. It's a special week, a unique event. Not everyone can enjoy this. I'm fortunate.' Article content Article content MLS has defeated Liga MX three times in four tries. Last year Liga MX won 4-1 in Columbus, Ohio. The MLS All-Stars won in 2022 and beat Liga MX on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw a year prior. Article content Surridge scored another goal on Wednesday, from the middle of the box, heading in to the lower right corner a ball directed by LAFC's Denis Bouanga in the 28th minute. Article content Article content The opportunity developed after Bouanga had a point-blank attempt stopped by Liga MX goalkeeper Luis Malagon (Club America). Bouanga hustled to retrieve the long rebound and sent it to Surridge. Article content Before the goal, both teams had attempts rejected with diving stops by Luis Malagon and Austin FC's Brad Stuver in the 13th and 18th minutes. Article content MLS went ahead 2-0 in the 51st minute when Diego Rossi (Columbus) passed ahead to Baribo (Philadelphia), whose right footed shot from the center of the box made it to the lower left corner of the goal. Article content Liga MX closed the gap to 2-1 just 13 minutes later when Gilberto Mora (Club Tijuana) converted a pass from Elias Montiel (Pachuca) from the middle of the box. Article content 'We had moments when we played good soccer,' Liga MX coach Andre Jardine said. Article content Liga MX's bid to tie the match was snubbed when a shot by Diber Cambindo (Necaxa) was stopped by Yohei Takaoka (Vancouver) in the 75th minute. Article content White (Vancouver) finished the scoring in the 80th minute. Article content 'They are competitive,' Estevez said. 'One scores and the other says 'I have to score.' Brian in the end said 'I have to score.' ' Article content