Soccer <\/p>\n
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida \u2013 The 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a> Cinderellas are 90 minutes from their storybook ending.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Vancouver Whitecaps FC<\/a> completed the stunning elimination of Inter Miami CF<\/a> Wednesday night at Chase Stadium, advancing to the single-match June 1 final thanks to a decisive 3-1 win<\/a> (5-1 aggregate) in Leg 2 of their semifinal series.<\/p>\n Jesper S\u00f8rensen\u2019s side wrote the latest chapter of their historic CCC run with their biggest feat to date: dispatching a tournament favorite boasting Lionel Messi<\/a> as leader of arguably the most talented squad in MLS history.<\/p>\n And yet it was Vancouver, with just a fraction of the Herons\u2019 roster budget and still missing injured captain and top earner Ryan Gauld<\/a>, who looked like a powerhouse, overcoming Jordi Alba<\/a>\u2019s 9th-minute strike with a dominant second half punctuated by three straight unanswered goals from Brian White<\/a>, Pedro Vite<\/a> and Sebastian Berhalter<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you play a team like Miami and you are inexperienced, it is difficult,\u201d S\u00f8rensen, who was hired in mid-January<\/a>, told reporters post-match.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is difficult because it\u2019s the best player in the world [Messi] who\u2019s coming. Maybe someone out there had a poster of him when they were kids. My son did, and he\u2019s 24.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n However, Messi & Co. became the latest CCC victims of a Vancouver side that previously rallied to defeat Costa Rica\u2019s Deportivo Saprissa in Round One before pulling off back-to-back Leg 2 heroics at LIGA MX powerhouses CF Monterrey (Round of 16) and Pumas UNAM (quarterfinals).<\/p>\n \u201cThere are some things that you can work on in daily practice, some things that you can train and try to simulate in the daily work,\u201d S\u00f8rensen said. \u201cBut there are also things that you can\u2019t.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need experience, you need to go down to Monterrey and get the result to get that confidence that you can do it again. You need to score in the last minute against Pumas, not to go and panic when they score early.\u201d<\/p>\n One more LIGA MX club \u2013 either Cruz Azul or Tigres UANL, who face off Thursday night with the second spot in the final on the line \u2013 stands in the way of the Whitecaps officially becoming the continent\u2019s best team.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not to sound arrogant or anything, [but] I don\u2019t have that well of a knowledge of them yet. We will get it,\u201d Sorensen answered when asked if he had a preferred opponent. \u201cBut we already played two very strong teams from Mexico. We know it\u2019s very hard.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n One more to go ????#VWFC<\/a> | #ConcaChampions<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/2GQiu4bASF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) May 1, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Berhalter was far bolder in his assessment of Vancouver\u2019s chances, claiming they have shown more than enough to be considered a legitimate title contender.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re dreamers. You know: Why not, right? Why not?\u201d said the 23-year-old, who\u2019s suspended for the final due to yellow card accumulation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re a small-market club, but why not win the whole thing? We\u2019ve been saying it since day one: we\u2019re about trophies. This club wants to win trophies. That\u2019s why we\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n While Berhalter\u2019s absence will leave a significant hole in the Vancouver midfield, their attacking line boasts arguably the region\u2019s most in-form striker in White. Fresh off his MLS Player of the Month recognition<\/a>, the US international sparked Wednesday\u2019s comeback victory with his sixth goal of the tournament \u2013 leveling him with Cruz Azul\u2019s \u00c1ngel Sep\u00falveda for the Golden Boot lead.<\/p>\n Additionally, there\u2019s the added boost of possibly hosting the June 1 final at BC Place, should Leg 2 of the Cruz Azul-Tigres series go their way.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019d be a special moment, obviously,\u201d White said. \u201cIt\u2019s not completely in our control anymore, but hopefully the soccer Gods will play into our hands there and help us host that final.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Together with the fans \u2014 Vancouver celebrates a historic moment! ???? pic.twitter.com\/tYc6qJX2Lm<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) May 1, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n So far, the soccer Gods have helped Vancouver to unprecedented heights in their MLS history.<\/p>\n Heading into the 2025 season, the Whitecaps only had four Canadian Championship<\/a> titles to their name. Now, they\u2019re atop the Supporters\u2019 Shield standings with a 7W-1L-2D record (23 points) and a win away from clinching the tournament\u2019s top club trophy that grants a spot in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup<\/a> and the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you to the fans,\u201d White said. \u201cObviously, this has been quite a ride for us and quite a ride for them.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we\u2019re glad to share that with them.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n Remarkable run<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Dreaming big<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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One more to go<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n