No Messi, no problem: Inter Miami defeats slumping Whitecaps

Missing Argentine soccer icon Lionel Messi wasn't an issue for Inter Miami on Saturday.

Even without the World Cup-winning superstar, Miami cruised to a 2-1 victory over the slumping Whitecaps  in Vancouver.

Fans were outraged earlier in the week to hear Miami wasn't bringing Messi to play in B.C. because of the club's congested Major League Soccer schedule. The team also left Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez and Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets in Florida.

Saturday's result stretched Vancouver's winless skid to six games in MLS play while Miami's unbeaten streak grew to 10 straight outings.

"(Major League Soccer) is like this. Every team goes through this kind of period during the season," Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini said after the loss. "We are conscious of the fact that we need to do better, but also we're conscious of the fact that we can do better."

Pink No. 10 Messi jerseys still dotted the announced crowd of 51,035 and chants of "Where is Messi?" broke out in the game's early minutes. 

The 'Caps started off with an aggressive offence, and came tantalizingly close to opening the scoring in the eighth minute. Vancouver did not register a shot on target through the first half, while the visitors logged five.

Miami finally beat the Vancouver goalkeeper in the 38th minute, when Robert Taylor put Miami 1-0 up.

In the second half, Inter Miami striker Leonardo Campana tapped a shot in to give Miami a 2-0 lead in the 54th minute. 

Then, Tomas Aviles bodychecked Fafa Picault inside the penalty area in the 69th minute. While the foul wasn't initially called, the play was double-checked by the video assistant referee and a penalty was awarded. 

Midfielder Ryan Gauld stepped up to take the kick and sent a right-footed