Brian White and Pedro Vite struck within two minutes of each other as Vancouver Whitecaps shocked Inter Miami with a 3-1 win in the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final on Wednesday night, extinguishing Lionel Messi’s hopes of reaching the tournament’s final.

Sebastian Berhalter was also on the scoresheet for Vancouver, who progressed with a commanding 5-1 aggregate score and will now face either Cruz Azul or Tigres UANL in the Champions Cup final on 1 June.

For the Canadian side, the final represents one of the most significant matches in their history, with the winner earning a coveted place in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup. The Whitecaps had previously only reached the semi-finals, in 2017.

Inter Miami entered the decisive fixture trailing 2-0 on aggregate, having been shut out in the first leg last Thursday. To progress, they required a win by at least three goals in normal time – a feat no MLS team had managed in such circumstances.

Messi, meanwhile, was held goalless for a fourth consecutive match, and despite a bright start from the visitors, Vancouver quickly turned the tie on its head in the second half.

After Jordi Alba had given Inter Miami an early lead with his first goal of the season – assisted by Luis Suárez – the Whitecaps responded swiftly after the break. In the 51st minute, Berhalter set up White for the equaliser, before Vite added a second moments later, guiding a deflected shot beyond Oscar Ustari in the 53rd.

Berhalter, who had assisted both goals, then found the net himself in the 71st minute, drilling a low finish into the bottom-left corner from the centre of the box to seal the result. He has now contributed to all five of Vancouver’s goals in the semi-finals, having also scored in the first leg.

However, the midfielder will miss the final due to yellow card accumulation, after receiving a booking in the first half for a foul on Miami’s Tadeo Allende.

Inter Miami’s elimination also marks their third consecutive defeat – the first such run during the Messi era. Despite a number of late opportunities, the visitors were unable to claw their way back into the match.

More than 53,000 supporters packed into BC Place Stadium for last week’s opening leg, where White and Berhalter were also on target in a 2-0 win. With that result and Wednesday’s triumph, the Whitecaps – who currently boast the best record in Major League Soccer at 7-2-1 – continue their remarkable ascent.

The club is reportedly exploring plans to construct a dedicated stadium, even as the current ownership considers a potential sale of the team.

The CONCACAF Champions Cup brings together the top clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean to determine the region’s champion.