THE Vancouver Whitecaps advanced to the final of CONCACAF champions cut After a decisive victory against Inter Miami on Wednesday evening.
The Whitecaps led Inter Miami 2-0 before the decisive game of their two-leg series on Wednesday evening at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
The club struck three times in the second half to defeat Miami 3-1, and to seal the two-game series with a global score of 5-1.
The victory means that they will play the winner of Thursday’s match between Cruz Azul and Tigres Uanl in the Cup final.
The Whitecaps had a huge advantage before Wednesday’s match, but said they also realized that Lionel Messi and the rest of the Miami star range would not give up easily.
“We are close but still far,” said head coach Jesper Sorensen at a press conference on Tuesday. “We are against a good team where many things can happen.
“They will be hungry to win, but we will be too. We do not fall asleep too honestly (be ahead). We know that we have to play a game.”
Midfielder Ali Ahmed warned that Vancouver could not be too confident.
“The work is not even about to be done,” said the Canadian international. “We are going to have to dig deeply.
“We know who they have there. They are a special team. ”
Maximiliano Falcon from Miami said that his team had traveled this road before, returning from two goals to defeat the Los Angeles FC in the quarterfinals.
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“We know that this is a situation that is not in our favor,” said the Uruguayan defender before the match. “We trained according to what we have already seen (Vancouver) and what happened in the previous game. We all have the same confidence as we can reverse this situation.
“It’s difficult, there can be no margin of error, but we have all the confidence if we do good work, we can pass.”
Miami coach Javier Mascherano said his team felt no pressure before the decisive match.
“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 more than 53,000 people watched striker Brian White and midfielder Sebastian Berhalter Score in Vancouver’s victory in the first match at BC Place Stadium last Thursday.
Since then, the two teams have played Major League football games on Sunday with very different results.
The Whitecaps took the road and obtained two goals from Pedro quickly to defeat Minnesota United 3-1 to improve their MLS head record at 7-2-1.
Miami underwent his first defeat of the season, abandoning an advance of 3-1 to lose 4-3 against FC Dallas at home. Miami is fifth from the East MLS conference with a 5-13 file.
Mascherano has chosen to rest many of his starters, notably Messi, the eight time the winner of the Ballon d’Or, the striker Luis Suárez, midfielder Sergio Busquets, defender Jordi Alba and goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
Sorensen did not read too much in Sunday matches.
“I think we cannot put too much what happened,” he said. “I would say that the two teams showed that they concentrated on Wednesday.
“I think that for them, it is even more important to win the Concacaf Cup tournament.”
The Whitecaps needed a victory, draw or defeat of a single goal to go to the first final champions Cup of the team.
The Whitecaps reached the semi-finals of the tournament in 2017.
Vancouver qualified in the semi-finals by beating Pumas Unam 3-3 on the overall score on goals outside. Miami beat Lafc 3-2 on aggregated goals.
The Concacaf Champions Cup presents 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.
Ahmed was delighted with the chance to reach the final.
“It is a monumental moment for the club and for me to be part of the story,” said the native of Toronto, 24. “This club gave me a chance to live my dream.
“Playing in a final of the Champions Cup, as a young Canadian for a Canadian club, is a big step in my career and something that I will cherish forever.”
With a Simon Little, Global News file
& Copy 2025 the Canadian press