Messi and Miami had no answer for Vancouver's speed and athleticism and paid for it with a 2-0 defeat
Vancouver Whitecaps fans reportedly paid close to three times face value to catch a glimpse of Lionel Messi at BC Place in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals against Inter Miami on Thursday night. The 53,837 in attendance were not disappointed.
Not only did they get a 90-minute showing from the Argentine maestro, but they also saw their hometown side pull off a stunning 2-0 upset – sparked by a brilliant headed goal from Brian White. It was all Vancouver needed in the first leg, but the job isn’t done yet. Leg 2 is set for April 30 at Chase Field in Florida.
Still, this is a result that will live long in the memory of Whitecaps supporters, especially considering what happened when these two teams met last season. During Inter Miami’s previous visit to BC Place, then-manager Tata Martino rested stars Messi, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Busquets due to fixture congestion – a match Miami still won 2-1. The decision sparked backlash from the Vancouver crowd and prompted Martino to publicly defend his call.
This year, with a spot in the Champions Cup final on the line, both sides fielded full-strength lineups – and it was Vancouver who seized the moment. Following a playbook that has given issues before, the Whitecaps ceded possession and waited for their chance to strike. White gave an early warning, just missing a through ball in front of goal in the third minute. About 20 minutes later, he made no mistake.
Despite Miami holding 73 percent of the ball in the first 20 minutes, it was caught out on the counter. Sebastian Berhalter picked out White with a perfectly weighted aerial pass, and the striker nodded home in the 24th minute.
Inter Miami looked flat in attack, with Messi leading the team in shots (three) but struggling to find space. Vancouver effectively denied the 37-year-old access to the box, forcing him into long-range attempts and set-piece opportunities. Two of his shots were on target, but Yohei Takaoka was up to the task with a stellar showing in goal.
Berhalter wasn’t done, either. In the 85th minute, the midfielder capped another swift counter with a rocket, sealing the match. Unless Miami can fix its persistent issues against athletic, counter-attacking sides, its Champions Cup run may be over next week.
GOAL rates Inter Miami from BC Place…
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Oscar Ustari (6/10):
There was not much he could have done with either goal, and made three other saves that would've otherwise padded Vancouver's result. Overall, he's not at fault here.
Jordi Alba (6/10):
His veteran legs proved costly in Thursday's fixture as the Whitecaps repeatedly attacked Inter Miami on the flanks in their counters. Registered two tackles, but did make an impact on attack with two chances created.
Maximiliano Falcón (7/10):
Was Miami's top performer in defense, winning seven of eight duels along with three clearances and three interceptions.
Noah Allen (6/10):
Not as impactful as usual, but still managed to have a team-high five clearances in the match.
Marcelo Weigandt (6/10):
Statistically strong with a team-high nine of 10 duels won, along with five out of six tackles. However, he was a part of the problem in defending the Whitecaps when they went wide on breaks. He struggled to stay in front of his opponent several times.
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Sergio Busquets (7/10):
Led the way for the Herons in playmaking, making 93 passes with a 92.5 percent accuracy. He also put in a shift defensively, having three tackles and winning five of eight duels. Still, his lack of pace was a part of the problem and played a role in Vancouver's effectiveness in counterattacking.
Federico Redondo(5/10):
Accurate with his passing, but that was about it. He lost four of his seven duels and was mistake-prone, and got a yellow card. Subbed off at the 70th-minute.
Tadeo Allende (6/10):
Defended more than he usually does and struggled in that area. He tried to make an impact on attack, but was ineffective. Was still sadly one of Inter Miami's best attacking threats on the night.
Telasco Segovia (5/10):
Created a chance and helped with keeping possession, but similar to his midfield counterparts, he had no answer for the pace and speed of Vancouver in the center of the park. Subbed off in the 74th minute.
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Luis Suarez (5/10):
These are the types of matches where the Uruguayan heavily struggles. If teams stack the box, the 38-year-old simply can't beat defenders like he did at Liverpool and Barcelona a decade ago. He was largely invisible on the night, taking two shots inside the box and not hitting the target.
Lionel Messi (7/10):
Miami's only attacking threat, and his frustration was evident, especially midway through the first half after missing a long-range opportunity. Following the missed shot, he spent about two minutes barking back and forth with Andrés Cubas. His best opportunity came late on a free-kick that was blocked by Takaoka.
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Yannick Bright (5/10):
Subbed with 20 minutes remaining, not his usual destroyer self, but could be forgiven considering the time he had to make an impact.
Benjamin Cremaschi (5/10):
Came on with 15 minutes left and struggled to make an impact, losing all three duels he was involved with and wasn't his best with passing either.
Javier Mascherano (6/10):
The Argentine has been a breath of fresh air for Inter Miami this season, but this wasn't his night as he was outcoached by his counterpart in Jesper Sørensen. This was a game that screamed for an inclusion of pace and he made just two substitutions on the night. Bringing on Cremaschi earlier, along with trying Fafa Picault – a former Whitecap who didn't see action – could have made the difference.