Despite a 2-0 defeat in the first leg, Inter Miami still held hope of reaching the final, especially with the second leg at home. But Lionel Messi’s side couldn’t turn things around on their own turf either, falling 3-1 to Canadian side Vancouver Whitecaps, who progressed to the final with a 5-1 aggregate win.
Inter Miami started brightly, taking a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute through Jordi Alba, who finished off a pass from Luis Suárez. However, that was their only moment of joy. Messi failed to score for a fourth straight match, and Miami’s attack fizzled out.
Inter Miami 1-3 Vancouver
The Whitecaps responded quickly in the second half. Brian White equalized in the 51st minute off a Sebastian Berhalter assist, and just two minutes later, Pedro Vite made it 2-1. In the 71st minute, Berhalter capped off the night with a clinical finish from the center of the box.
Berhalter was the standout over both legs, directly involved in all five of Vancouver’s goals scoring one in the first leg, and contributing two assists and a goal in the second. However, he will miss the final due to suspension after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament in the first half.
Vancouver Whitecaps will play in the final on June 1, while Messi and Inter Miami are left to reflect on what might have been.
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