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The Vancouver Whitecaps are close to reaching the summit of the CONCACAF Champions Cup but face a difficult last climb to the final. The Whitecaps lead Inter Miami 2-0 heading into the deciding game of their two-leg series Wednesday night at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, which will kick off at 5 p.m.
PT. The Whitecaps have a huge advantage, but also realize Lionel Messi and the rest of Miami's star-studded lineup won't give up easily. "We're close but still far away," head coach Jesper Sorensen told a news conference Tuesday.
"We're up against a good team where a lot of stuff can happen. "They will be hungry to win, but we will be as well. We're not putting too much into it, honestly [being ahead].
We know we have to play a game." WATCH | Whitecaps prevail over Messi and Miami in first leg: Whitecaps defeat Messi and Inter Miami 2-0 in 1st leg of CONCACAF semi 6 days ago Duration 1:49 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.
Midfielder Ali Ahmed warned Vancouver can't be overconfident. "The job is not even close to being done," said the Canadian international. "We're going to have to dig deep.
"We know who they have there. They're a special team." Vancouver Whitecaps' Emmanuel Sabbi, top, kicks the ball past Inter Miami's Maximiliano Falcon during the second half of the first leg.
(Christopher Morris/The Canadian Press) Miami's Maximiliano Falcon said his team has travelled this road before, coming back from two goals down to defeat Los Angeles FC in the quarterfinals. "We know it's a situation that's not in our favour," said the Uruguayan defender. "We've trained according to what we've already seen from [Vancouver] and what happened in the previous game.
We all have the same confidence that we can turn this situation around. "It's difficult. There can be no margin of error, but we have all the confidence that if we do a good job, we can go through.
" Vancouver Whitecaps' Ali Ahmed, left, pursues Inter Miami's Lionel Messi with Whitecaps' Pedro Vite, right, during the first half. Messi did not get on the scoresheet in the first leg. (Christopher Morris/The Canadian Press) Miami coach Javier Mascherano said his team feels no pressure heading into the deciding game.
"I still believe in this team," he said. "We have nothing to lose. Maybe the pressure is on Vancouver.
They have to keep the result." A record crowd of over 53,000 watched striker Brian White and midfielder Sebastian Berhalter score in Vancouver's opening-game win at B.C.
Place Stadium last Thursday. Since then, both teams played Major League Soccer matches on Sunday with much different results. The Whitecaps went on the road and got two goals from Pedro Vite to defeat Minnesota United 3-1 to improve their MLS-leading record to 7-2-1.
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Vite (45) scores against Minnesota United goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match on April 27, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn.
The Whitecaps followed up its Miami win with a win against Minnesota. (Adam Bettcher/The Associated Press) Miami suffered its first loss of the season, giving up a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 against FC Dallas at home. Miami is fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference with a 5-13 record.
Mascherano elected to rest many of his starters, including Messi, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, forward Luis Suárez, midfielder Sergio Busquets, defender Jordi Alba and goalkeeper Oscar Ustari. Sorensen isn't reading too much into Sunday's games. "I think we cannot put too much into what happened," he said.
"I would say both teams showed they have focus on Wednesday. "I think for them it's even more important to win the CONCACAF Cup tournament." CONCACAF final in sight The Whitecaps need a win, draw, or loss by a single goal to advance to the team's first CONCACAF Champions Cup final.
The series winner will face either Cruz Azul or Tigres UNAL on June 1. The Whitecaps reached the tournament semifinals in 2017. Whitecaps defeat Messi and Inter Miami 2-0 in 1st leg of CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal Vancouver Whitecaps unfazed by Messi spotlight ahead of semifinal clash with Miami Vancouver advanced to the semifinal by defeating Pumas UNAM 3-3 on aggregate score on away goals.
Miami defeated LAFC 3-2 on aggregate goals. The CONCACAF Champions Cup features the best teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean to crown a regional champion and to qualify for the next FIFA Club World Cup. LEG 2.
ALL ON THE LINE 🔵⚔️🏆 @TheChampions Semifinal Leg 2🆚 @InterMiamiCF⏱️ 5:00pm PT🏟️ Chase Stadium📺 @OneSoccer, FuboTV, & @TELUS ch.980 #VWFC | #ConcaChampions pic.twitter.
com/0yTbP2s2uA — @WhitecapsFC Ahmed is thrilled over the chance to reach the final. "It's a monumental moment for the club and for me to be part of history," said the 24-year-old Toronto native. "This club has given me a chance to live out my dream.
"Playing in a Champions Cup final, as a young Canadian for a Canadian club, is a big milestone in my career and something I will cherish forever.".
