Whitecaps defeat Messi and Inter Miami 2-0 in 1st leg of CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal

Jon Azpiri · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 25, 2025 12:46 AM EDT | Last Updated: 5 minutes ago

The Vancouver Whitecaps defeated Lionel Messi and Inter Miami FC 2-0 astatine B.C. Place Thursday nighttime successful the archetypal limb of their CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal.

The Whitecaps took the pb successful the 25th infinitesimal erstwhile Brian White headed a shot from Pedro Vite past Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari. Sebastian Berhalter added to the Whitecaps' pb with a extremity successful the 84th minute. 

The highly-anticipated lucifer came adjacent to a twelvemonth aft galore section shot fans were disappointed erstwhile Messi — and chap veterans Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets — didn't question to Vancouver for Miami's regular-season MLS crippled against the Whitecaps. 

More than 53,000 fans took successful Thursday night's match at B.C. Place.

There were plentifulness of radical wearing Messi jerseys successful the stands, though the Argentine prima was booed when he had possession of the ball. 

Longtime Whitecaps instrumentality Tony Gabriel said helium was thrilled to spot Messi play live, but helium was acold much excited astatine the imaginable of having the Whitecaps beforehand to the last of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, which features the champion teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. 

He said much has changed for the Whitecaps since Messi's no-show past year.

The 'Caps have the champion grounds successful MLS and pb the Western Conference with a 6-1-2 grounds for 20 points. Gabriel said caller caput manager Jesper Sorensen has his squad playing with vigor and cohesion. 

"Look astatine the turnaround, look astatine the team, look astatine the depth that they have," said Gabriel, who sits successful a conception of B.C. Place known arsenic Willie's Corner, named aft Willie Johnston, a prima with the Whitecaps backmost successful the NASL era.

"How could you not beryllium a fan of the Whitecaps? How could you not privation to spell retired and and travel to the games and ticker the Whitecaps play? It doesn't substance who they're playing. Lionel Messi is simply a bonus, yes. But the squad is doing amazing," Gabriel said.

The team's caller tally of occurrence comes astatine a captious clip successful franchise history. 

Ownership announced precocious past twelvemonth that the nine was for sale. Earlier this month, the Whitecaps released a connection saying they are in discussions with the City of Vancouver regarding the operation of a stadium astatine the PNE fairgrounds site. 

The 2nd leg of the semifinal will beryllium Wednesday astatine Chase Stadium successful Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The victor volition beforehand to the CONCACAF Champions Cup last against either Cruz Azul oregon Tigres UNAL connected June 1.