Whitecaps defeat Messi and Inter Miami 2-0 in 1st leg of CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal

The Vancouver Whitecaps defeated Lionel Messi and Inter Miami FC 2-0 at B.C. Place Thursday night in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal.

The Whitecaps took the lead in the 24th minute when Brian White headed a ball from Pedro Vite past Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari. Sebastian Berhalter added to the Whitecaps' lead with a goal in the 85th minute. 

The highly-anticipated match came close to a year after many local soccer fans were disappointed when Messi — and fellow veterans Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets — didn't travel to Vancouver for Miami's regular-season MLS game against the Whitecaps. 

More than 53,000 fans took in Thursday night's match at B.C. Place.

There were plenty of people wearing Messi jerseys in the stands, although the Argentine star was booed when he had possession of the ball. 

Messi threatened in the 18th minute. He weaved through the defence and took a sharp angle shot from the corner of the net that was stopped, then cleared by defender Ranko Veselinovic. He had another shot in the 36th minute, blasting a ball from outside the box through a crowd that Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka stopped.

The Argentine also had a free kick from distance in the 71st minute that Takaoka also handled.

Longtime Whitecaps fan Tony Gabriel said he was thrilled to see Messi play live, but he was far more excited at the prospect of having the Whitecaps advance to the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, which features the best teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. 

He said much has changed for the Whitecaps since Messi's no-show last year.

The 'Caps have the best record in MLS and lead the Western Conference with a 6-1-2 record for 20 points. Gabriel said new head coach