Vancouver left Messi without the end of Concachampions and Mascherano surrounded by a sea of ​​doubts

One more time, Inter Miami He did not give the size in a decisive encounter. Like last season against Atlanta United (First round of playoffs of the Major League Soccer) and Rayados de Monterrey (quarterfinals of the Concachampions), the team now led by Javier Mascherano He suffers when he is against one who demands it just a little more. And this time he suffered Vancouver Whitecaps, The leader of the West Conference of the MLS, which won 3-1 (5-1 at the Global) at the Fort Lauderdale Chase Stadium for the semifinals of the continental contest.

The early goal made in Barcelona of Jordi Alba, After a previous combination between Lionel Messi y Luis Suarez, He gave illusion to the local team eight minutes after the first half. Then, Messi himself and also the Venezuelan Tablasco Segovia They had chances to match the series after the 2-0 suffered in the first leg. However, he seemed more for deficiency of his rival, who did not show the aggressiveness of the match played last week on Canadian soil, than for his own merits.

.@InterMiamiCF scores a huge goal early in the #Championscup Semis. 💥

Messi ➡️ Luis Suarez ➡️ Jordi Alba Goalpic.twitter.com/5Tb4NfouK9

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 1, 2025

Even in a dazzled first, Vancouver Whitecaps presented in each minimum attempt to attack the defensive fragility of Inter Miami. Thus it was, for example, at 12 minutes of play: a Tropezón del Uruguayo Maximiliano Falcón, of very lazy game, the ball served Brian White, that enabled a Emmanuel Karmi and Americanized American Italian topped the stick. Without doing much, the visit generated danger. Minutes later, it appeared Oscar Ustari, The best of the pink team throughout the tie, to stop a shot by Ecuadorian Pedro Vite.

Beyond that Inter Miami was shot in the result, the feeling was that in the game it was still far away. A rival’s goal was complicated and much, since the visitor goal rule that still governs American football would force him to score three more.

So Vancouver, aware that on the other side – with a messi off – he did not find a rival to worry him, he went out to the second half with another attitude. He used the speed of his strikers and did not dedicate himself only to counterattack, as in the first part, but played decidedly in the adversary field. And in a couple of plays liquidated the series.

Brian White sends it to the back of the net! ⚽💥 pic.twitter.com/84L5Ek2bhs

— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) May 1, 2025

First, five minutes after the complement, the scorer Brian White He gave a pass to the network after a good previous combination between Ali Ahmed y Sebastian haalter who left the local defenders. And then, just two minutes later, a shot by Pedro Vite bounced in Jordi Alba and the ball got on top to Ustari.

PEDRO VITE! The Whitecaps take the lead! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Xc6WR2jR6a

— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) May 1, 2025

It was a blow of knockout for Inter Miami, which had to mark four goals. Impossible. Only some attempt by Messi and Suárez appeared with the possibility of decorating a bulky result. And later 3-1 arrived, Berhalter’s work.

There was no way to try a comeback. For the defensive shortcomings of a team that seems game in two. And because half of the court onwards, where he finds his greatest virtues, he did not have the lucidity of other parties. The next big goal for Messi and company is the Club World Cup. They must improve and much to compete.