Inter Miami and Vancouver Whitecaps They will be crossed for the first time in the Concacaf Champions Cup this Thursday, in the first leg of the semifinals, with Lionel Messi and Brian White as offensive axes of two contrasting proposals.
The picture led by Javier Mascherano It has evolved defensively with respect to previous seasons and is emerging as the favorite for results and the weight of its figures.
“Vancouver is a strong team that has eliminated Monterrey and Pumas,” said Mascherano. “It has been doing very well in the MLS, it is a team that knows what it does and is very clear, they have half -field people forward with a lot of potential.”
The herons arrive at the semifinals for the first time after overcoming a two-goal disadvantage against LaFC (3-1), in which it has been the most important test of the season.
Before, they achieved four consecutive wins against Sporting Kansas City and Cavalier de Jamaica, in which they combined to score eight goals and receive two.
Messi, 37 and top scorer in the history of the club, has played five of the six games to date and with five goals is located in second place in the scorers table, with one less than Ángel Sepúlveda (Cruz Azul).
Suarez pursues his goal and celebrate with Inter Miami
It will be Messi’s first visit to Vancouver from his arrival in the United States. The world champion was absent in the 2-1 victory of the team then led by Gerardo Martino, on May 25, 2024, in the only confrontation between both teams.
The Uruguayan Luis Suárez leads to the southern Florida team with 14 games played in all competitions.
Suarez, 38, adds seven unmarked games, his last goal was precisely in the game back for the second round against Cavalier at the National Stadium in Jamaica.
The contribution of the former Uruguayan has been through assists and in the elaboration of the game, typical of the style that Javier Mascherano has implemented in the current season.
Players such as the Argentine Tadeo Allende, the Venezuelan Tlasco Segovia and perhaps in a role from the bench for the Haitian Fafa Picault, who also has a past in Vancouver, could be decisive to obtain a good result.
Inter Miami’s commitment at the beginning of the season has been based on defensive solidity, which includes great performances by Uruguayan Maximiliano Falcón and the surprise of the now Greek selected, Noah Allen.
Vancouver, a respect picture
By Vancouver, Brian White, with 10 goals in all competitions, and the Ecuadorian team Pedro Vite are the two great referents.
“Inter Miami is a team that has earned respect and comes in constant growth,” said Vite. “It is a game that excites you for the players you have in front, they are players who used to look at them on TV.”
The WhiteCaps exceeded the rounds of the eighths and quarterfinals taking advantage of the visitor goal rule. His only triumph and defeat in the competition was given in the first phase against the Saprissa of Costa Rica.
The Canadian team classified the semifinals for the first time since 2017 and aspires to become the third team to qualify for the final after Montreal (2014-15) and Toronto (2018).
Possible alignments:
Vancouver Whitecaps: Yohei Takaoka – Edier Ocampo, Tristan Blackmon, Ranko Veselinovic, Tat Johnson -sebastian Berhalter, Andrés Cubas, Jean Nondo – Pedro Vite, Daniel Ríos, Ali Ahmed. DT: Jesper Sorensen.
Inter Miami: Óscar Ustari – Marcelo Weigandt, Maximiliano Falcón, Noah Allen, Jordi Alba – Tadeo Allende, Yannick Bright, Sergio Busquets, Telasco Segovia – Luis Suárez, Lionel Messi. DT: Javier Mascherano.
