CONCACAF Champions Cup: Whitecaps grab edge over Miami

Vancouver's Brian White scored in the first half and Sebastian Berhalter added a late tally as the Whitecaps beat visiting Inter Miami 2-0 on Thursday in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal series.

The two-game, total-goal series will conclude on Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The winner advances to the June 1 final to face a Mexican opponent, either Cruz Azul or Tigres UANL.

In the 24th minute, Pedro Vite chipped a cross into the Miami penalty area, and White headed it in from 6 yards out to post the Whitecaps in front.

Vancouver doubled the lead in the 85th minute on an impressive team attack. Jayden Nelson ran onto a pass at the top of the 18-yard box but went wide as he approached the end line. His cutback into the middle eluded players from both teams before a late-arriving Berhalter ran onto the ball and drove home an 8-yard shot with his right foot.

Inter Miami star Lionel Messi played the full 90 minutes and wound up with three shots, two on target.