Vancouver Whitecaps secured a significant 2-0 victory against Inter Miami in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup, moving closer to a potential historic final appearance. Sebastian Berhalter sealed the win with a late goal in the 85th minute. Playing before a record attendance exceeding 53,000, Vancouver demonstrated superior intensity and preparedness from the start, winning duels and disrupting Miami`s play, even dispossessing Lionel Messi at crucial times. Coach Jesper Sorensen`s side looked well-prepared, despite missing key players such as Ryan Gauld.
Brian White, Vancouver`s leading forward, opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a header from a Pedro Vite cross, bolstering his case for inclusion in the USMNT picture. After taking the lead, Vancouver didn`t retreat into a defensive posture. Instead, they maintained offensive pressure, continuing to challenge Miami.
Inter Miami, nicknamed the Herons, created few clear opportunities, managing just two shots on target throughout the match. This allowed Vancouver to control the tempo and flow of the game, a situation Miami manager Javier Mascherano had expressed concern about beforehand. Even a recent win against Columbus Crew showed vulnerabilities, as Miami were statistically outplayed (lost the xG battle) and narrowly avoided defeat. Despite midfield adjustments, including the introduction of Federico Redondo, it was Vancouver`s Pedro Vite and Sebastian Berhalter who were the most influential players on the pitch.
Sebastian Berhalter was exceptional, covering immense ground across the field. He is forging his own path in American soccer, distinct from his father Gregg Berhalter, who achieved prominence with the USMNT as both a player and coach and is now involved with Chicago Fire. Since moving from the Columbus Crew setup to Vancouver, Berhalter has developed significantly and is currently having a standout season under coach Sorensen, contributing to the Whitecaps` position atop the Western Conference.
The match pitted two of the current top MLS teams against each other. Vancouver demonstrated that success in crucial knockout matches doesn`t solely depend on having world-renowned stars. However, they must remain cautious for the return leg. Inter Miami previously overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit to beat Los Angeles FC in the quarterfinals, though securing the two-goal advantage makes Vancouver`s position stronger.
The away goals rule remains active in the Concacaf Champions Cup tiebreaker. Currently, only a 2-0 home win for Miami would send the tie to extra time. Should Vancouver score in Fort Lauderdale, Miami would then need to score four goals to advance, a significant challenge even for a squad of their quality.
While Inter Miami has achieved success since Lionel Messi joined, questions about their resilience persist under Javier Mascherano, similar to issues seen after Tata Martino`s departure and the early playoff exit. A strong regular season performance alone won`t suffice for this ambitious team, and Mascherano had emphasized the significance of this match. Now trailing, Miami must display the same fighting spirit shown against LAFC, but Vancouver is expected to be a more defensively resolute opponent than LAFC proved to be.
With key depth players like Robert Taylor having left, and reports suggesting others like Julian Gressel may also depart, balancing the squad will be a crucial task for Mascherano. The schedule is demanding; Miami plays FC Dallas this weekend before hosting the second leg of the semifinal on April 30th.
Ahead of the next match, Mascherano will need star striker Luis Suarez to regain his scoring form. The Uruguayan is currently enduring a drought, without a goal contribution in six games and no goals scored in eight matches. Earlier in the season, Miami could compensate when other players like Tadeo Allende were in form, but in crucial knockout ties, they require the prolific output Suarez delivered last season (25 goals in all competitions). If Suarez cannot rediscover his sharpness, Miami`s prospects, both in this tie and long-term, could be in jeopardy.
