Inter Miami faced their most important match to date in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal but were decisively beaten 3-1 by the Vancouver Whitecaps at Chase Stadium on Wednesday. This victory sent the Whitecaps into the final. Sebastian Berhalter was the standout performer, scoring once and assisting twice, proving more impactful than Lionel Messi. Against expectations, the Whitecaps eliminated the heavily favored Miami team, sending the World Cup winner and his teammates home.
Inter Miami showed early promise, appearing set to replicate their quarterfinal comeback against LAFC when Jordi Alba scored just nine minutes in. However, Vancouver quickly recovered and managed to hold Miami to a 1-0 lead by halftime.
After halftime, Jesper Sorensen`s Whitecaps side made crucial adjustments. Berhalter set up goals for Brian White and Pedro Vite in quick succession, less than two minutes apart. This rapid turnaround seemed to visibly impact some Inter Miami players, suggesting they felt the deficit was insurmountable, even with Messi on the field. Berhalter then sealed the win with his own goal in the 71st minute, exposing what appear to be significant weaknesses within the Miami team.
Although Messi has maintained strong performance for Inter Miami this season with eight goals and two assists across all competitions, other key players are struggling. Luis Suarez`s goalless run has extended to eight matches, while Tadeo Allende`s scoring form has also dipped. Furthermore, the defense is once again conceding multiple goals regularly. Following the departures of players like Leonardo Campana, Robert Taylor, and Julian Gressel, questions are being raised about the squad composition under Javier Mascherano.
Looking ahead, participation in the Club World Cup is approaching for Miami, but their current form suggests they might struggle to advance past the group stage. In contrast, the Whitecaps approached this match with a clear team strategy and executed it flawlessly. Although they may lose Berhalter for the final due to accumulated yellow cards, Sorensen has clearly built a squad capable of winning even without a vital player.
This performance highlights a crucial lesson for Miami. Eventually, Messi will depart, raising concerns about the team`s long-term viability when it appears structured around individuals rather than a cohesive unit. This presents a challenging outlook, which could potentially improve if Mascherano implements necessary adjustments. Without significant changes, Inter Miami might face a difficult season.
The Vancouver Whitecaps will now proceed to the Champions Cup final, scheduled for June 1, where they will play against either Cruz Azul or Tigres.
