Messi rematch: Vancouver Whitecaps can defeat Miami with win, draw, or maybe even a loss
The Vancouver Whitecaps are rolling.
Sitting atop the MLS table, the Whitecaps are also in the midst of an incredible run in the Concacaf Champions Cup. They’re in good position to advance to the final after defeating Lionel Messi and Inter Miami 2-0 at BC Place last week.
Vancouver will carry that 2-0 lead into the second leg Wednesday in Florida. The scores from the two legs are aggregated to determine who advances to the final.
If the Whitecaps win or earn a draw, they will move onto the final and Messi’s club will be eliminated. Vancouver can even advance with a loss, depending on the score.
The Whitecaps will advance if they lose by just one goal, or if they lose by two goals, provided they score at least once (3-1, 4-2, etc.).
If Miami wins by a 2-0 score, a penalty shootout will decide who advances.
And if Miami wins by three goals, Messi’s club will be in the final.
All the scenarios (@thechampions/Instagram)
While they should be happy with their position, the Whitecaps can’t afford to rest on their laurels. Messi’s club is one of the best teams in North America and just pulled off a second-leg comeback to advance through the previous round.
Whitecaps fans were booing Messi every time he touched the ball at BC Place. Several fans also taunted the Argentine mega-star as he left the pitch.
Mexican teams Tigres UANL and Cruz Azul are playing in the other semi-final. They tied their first match 1-1 and will play the second leg on Thursday.
The host for the final will be determined by tournament points and goal differential. Vancouver could tie both Mexican clubs by beating Miami in the second leg and having Tigres UANL and Cruz Azul tie in their next game. The host would then be determined by goal differential, where the Whitecaps are +2, Tigres are +3, and Cruz Azul are +4.
This means that the Whitecaps could host the final at BC Place if they beat Miami 3-0 and had the other game finish in a 0-0 draw. It’s unlikely but not impossible. The final is just one match.