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 collection.
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 doubtlessly backbreaking second aim with simply 5 minutes of normal time remaining.
The decisive second contest will likely be performed at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Might 1 (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1), with a spot within the regional remaining towards the winner of the opposite semi, between Mexican sides Cruz Azul and Tigres, on the road.
Miami should win by at the very least two objectives subsequent Wednesday simply to take the home-and-home total-goals-wins collection to further time.
Play of the sport
Vancouver squandered a number of early possibilities to take the lead in entrance of their house 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 end 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 internet.
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 via 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 house 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 towards Dallas. And Inter are greater than able to securing at the very least a 2-0 win of their very own at house subsequent week.
What’s subsequent for Vancouver?
First, the Whitecaps will have fun maybe the largest win in membership historical past. Then coach Jesper Sorensen should shortly refocus his squad for the duty forward subsequent week; like Mascherano, he’ll absolutely relaxation his regulars for Sunday’s journey to Minnesota United.
After eliminating Liga MX foes on the street in every of the final two rounds, the Canadians could have no worry. If they’ll snag a vital away aim early, Vancouver will likely be properly on its approach to the finale.
“We won’t get forward of ourselves,” Berhalter mentioned afterward. “We have got yet another 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 coated United States males’s and girls’s nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Comply with him @Byougmcinty.
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