Saturday in Florida, the Vancouver Whitecaps contested their first ever MLS Cup Final, as they fell by a final score of 3-1 to Inter Miami.
The final score only tells a very small part of the story, as this was a match that was incredibly entertaining and well contested throughout, and it was only when Miami scored an insurance marker deep into extra time that the result was no longer in doubt.
Vancouver looked like the better team for much of this match, especially from about the 25th minute until Inter’s second goal in the 71st, with the Whitecaps putting Miami under pressure and pressing for a second goal as soon as they’d found their first.
Ultimately, this match was decided by two costly Vancouver errors, and with a roster as talented as Miami’s on the other side, those errors were never going to go unpunished.
As much as we can litigate Jesper Sørensen’s management of the latter phases of the game, sometimes matches just come down to execution, and I think that was the case in this final. Miami was simply more clinical, even if Vancouver was, on balance, the better team in all other respects.
While the disappointment from this match is palpable, I think this team can hold their heads very high. Unlike the Champions Cup Final in Mexico, the Whitecaps stood toe to toe and had every chance of lifting the trophy. Sometimes you play well and things don’t go your way. If this core group remains together, there’s no reason they can’t be in a similar position this time next year.
Alright, without further delay, the final Report Card of 2025:
Yohei Takaoka – 6.5
I don’t think there was much the Japanese keeper could have done about the three Miami goals. Interestingly enough, they only had three shots on target.
Edier Ocampo – 5.5
Miami definitely targeted Edier in the first half, and that strategy paid off on the opening goal, as Ocampo kept the Miami attacker onside before scrambling to recover and eventually deflecting the cross into his own goal. The ball could have easily bounced out of play, but it was a risky play and Vancouver was punished for it. With how many fouls Miami was drawing, Edier was also at risk of a second yellow, so it probably would have made sense to take him out of the game.
Tristan Blackmon – 6.5
I thought Blackmon looked much better than he did against LAFC, though with Ocampo darting forward, he had a lot of ground to cover. It was nice to see Blackmon getting forward on the ball and being aggressive again, even if his teammates failed to match the offside trap on a couple of key occasions.
Ralph Priso – 7.5
Who would have thought at the start of the year that Ralph Priso would start at CB for the Whitecaps in an MLS Cup Final, and that he would be Vancouver’s most consistent defender throughout the playoffs? Priso made a couple of key tackles and blocks in this one and was also very calm on the ball.
Mathias Laborda – 6.5
Miami largely avoided playing down Laborda’s side of the pitch, so he was not too busy defensively, though equally, his impact on the ball was a bit more limited than I would have liked to see.
Andres Cubas – 5.5
This one is incredibly difficult. Two things are true here. Cubas was great for most of this match against Miami, and the Whitecaps would not have made two major finals this year without him. However, Cubas had four individual errors (three vs. Cruz Azul, one vs. Miami) that led to goals against in those finals. The giveaway that led to Miami’s second goal in this match was an absolute back-breaker. Vancouver had all the momentum at that moment and looked like the only team that would score another goal. Cubas froze with all the time in the world, and the match got away from Vancouver at that moment.
Sebastian Berhalter – 6.5
Berhalter provided all the energy and defensive work you’ve come to expect from him in this match, but for whatever reason, his attacking spark was lacking. His long passes and crosses rarely found the mark, and while some of that comes down to good midfield work from Miami, the Whitecaps needed more from him there.
Emmanuel Sabbi – 7.5
Sabbi was extremely energetic and creative in this match, and has been excellent throughout the playoffs. He was a bit unlucky not to tie the match in the first half, with Ríos Novo making a good save, and obviously, his double-post moment which could have secured the Whitecaps a lead was a massive moment, and was no fault of his own. I think we should be very encouraged about what Sabbi can do next season, given his recent form and having built some MLS experience.
Thomas Müller – 6.0
It might sound funny, but I think it’s fair to say Müller was one of Vancouver’s weaker starters throughout the playoffs. Against Miami, he really struggled with their initial press, and when he did get the ball in space, he was too slow to release the ball. I think it’s evident that he was struggling physically, and that put the coaching staff in a tough spot, because obviously you want him on the pitch, but at the same time, if he’s not able to have an impact, you need to get someone else out there. I was baffled he played the full 90+ to be honest.
Ali Ahmed – 7.5
Ali was great, as he’s been throughout the playoffs, and he scored his first MLS goal in the biggest MLS match of his career. He drew a ton of fouls and generally gave Ian Frey, a quality defender, a very hard time. I was a bit surprised he came off when he did, but it sounds like there may have been some physical limitations there, with illness in the week leading up to the match.
Brian White – 7.0
White’s hold-up play in the moment that led to Ali’s goal is a great example of his impact when he’s not scoring goals. I thought Vancouver could have, and perhaps should have, played through White more often, but it was a challenge to play the ball through the middle of the park against Miami.
Substitutes – 6.0
Ryan Gauld and Joedrick Pupe entered the match and, at that moment, Vancouver seemed to lose all of their momentum. Gauld struggled to get involved, and Pupe looked pretty out of sync. I wonder why Sørensen elected not to move Laborda to a central position and bring on Tate Johnson. I’m still not willing to say that Sørensen’s changes are the reason Vancouver lost this match, because if Cubas’ error or the Sabbi double post go differently, the Whitecaps could have an MLS Cup trophy right now. Nonetheless, the bench additions were not value-added in this one.
With that, we’ve come to the end of our match reports for the 2025 season. It’s been an incredible year, and I hope you’ve enjoyed the coverage we have provided along the way. There’s certainly more to come here as we dive into the offseason, but I want to take a moment to thank all of you, the readers, for your comments and support. On behalf of our whole Third Sub team, we really appreciate it!
breaking news………..After their stellar run to the MLS Cup Finals, the Vancouver Whitecaps are keeping the band together.
The Whitecaps have put pen to paper on a new contract with goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, keeping him in Vancouver through June 2027, the club announced Thursday.
WORLD CUP ISSUE…………TRUMP!
📌 Policy Proposal: U.S. Entry Requirements for Foreign Tourists
🔑 Main Points
Mandatory Disclosure: All foreign tourists would need to provide five years of social media history to enter the U.S.
Additional Data: Customs and Border Protection would also collect:
Email addresses used in the past five years
Telephone numbers used in the past five years
Names and addresses of family members
Applies to Visa-Free Travelers: Even visitors from countries like the U.K. and Germany, who normally don’t require visas, would face this requirement
Public Input: The U.S. public has 60 days to comment on the proposal via the Federal Register
Timing: Announced ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will bring thousands of foreign tourists to the U.S.
Broader Context: Part of a wider immigration crackdown since Trump’s return to office, including:
Requiring certain visa applicants to make social media profiles public
Expanding “online presence reviews” to H-1B applicants and dependents
Revoking visas of individuals who protested the war in Gaza
Criticism: Advocacy groups (e.g., Electronic Frontier Foundation) call these measures unprecedented surveillance aimed at suppressing foreign students’ online activity
Recent Trigger: Policy momentum increased after an Afghan national was charged in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. (suspect pleaded not guilty)
Hard not to blame this whole game on Laborda’s red card. It would’ve been so different playing in 18° weather at BC Place with 50,000 fans cheering them on..
Totally!!! LOL. That would have been amazing!
No guarantee we would have made it through that path. We scrapped hard all year, every supporter should be proud of this team. Stop with the blame game. How many games did Laborda help us win? You going to forget those and remember his rare errors?
Muller and Blackmon have been off the pace for the past couple of weeks; I wonder if they have been carrying injuries. 6 and 6.5 is quite generous…
I think the team may have potentially been better without them starting (although we do have a dearth of options at CB). If only we still had Pedro Vite to tighten up the midfield….
Re Cubas; him and Priso have been our best players of the playoffs without a doubt and he was playing so well until the mistake. I feel for him, especially if he ends up leaving us.
Also Cubas was not solely to blame for the goal. If you watch the clip again, he had terrible passing options and the whole team was static and flat footed. Don’t get me started on Blackmon’s poor attempt at an interception instead of tracking his runner.. rookie mistake. It’s a shame that these mistakes seem to only happen on the biggest stages.
First of all, a huge thank you to Axel for being the catalyst in making it all happen. What a great year.
As for the match, I agree with your comments overall, and especially the one about bringing in Johnson at left back and moving Laborda to center back. Can’t understand why they put Gauld on the right side. He and Johnson could have made some good crossover runs down the left, and perhaps got some nice crosses in to White and Muller with those great left feet.
For next year, in terms of getting Gauld, Muller. and White one the field at the same time, what do you people think of a 4-4-2 diamond formation with Gauld on the left, Berhalter on the right, Muller at the top, and a defensive midfielder ( either Cubas or Priso } at the back. White and another ( depending on who is left around ) of Ahmed, Sabbi, or Nelson up front ?
Also kudos to Jesper for his great leadership. Should be good competition for playing time next year with all the good young guys developing in the system, even if we end up losing a few of the veterans.
Forget to include my ” handle ” on the previous comment I am replying to.
Scrambler
yes!……………. next year, in terms of getting Gauld, Muller. and White one the field at the same time, what do you people think of a 4-4-2 diamond formation with Gauld on the left, Berhalter on the right, Muller at the top, and a defensive midfielder ( either Cubas or Priso } at the back. White and another ( depending on who is left around ) of Ahmed, Sabbi, or Nelson up front
i agree with commentors who said Jesper could have moved Laborda to CB and the Tate goes to LB- but HEH, after the season that Jesper gave us because he was the right coach for the right tem, can we really criticize??
Muller- hamstring tightness- if you have ever had a hamstring injury, you know it so very difficult to even push yourself onto the field, let alone playing- Thomas played regardless… now that is a LEADER!
i think our POTM was Sabbi, followed by Priso, then to the tremedous supporters who ponied up the $$$$$$$$$$ to make it down to Miami
regarding Ahmed, he is incapable of playing a whole game and be effective- he is a 60-65 minute effective player
LETS CELEBRATE — its been a long-time coming
Salty
QUESTIONS LOOKING AHEAD;
Can Muller, Gauld and Whyte play together next season?
Re Ahmed…does his style of play wear him out or…a lack of physical strength?
Good comment on Tate not being used. That hadn’t crossed my mind with so many other things to ponder. Tate is an excellent 2 way player and he would have offered a continuation of attack down the left side. The more I think about it the more I can’t understand how Tate could be overlooked. He’s played so well this season and Pupe hardly has any real match experience this season. On Miami’s first goal Ocampo did nothing wrong. It’s almost impossible to play a perfect defensive line given how fast the play went. 1st mistake: Messi beats 2 caps players. 2 players should be able to contain 1 player. When watching the reply it looks like Messi has left 3 caps players in his wake. 2nd mistake: Priso should have stayed with his man. This player was in the most dangerous position being 1 pass away from a breakaway. If Priso would have stayed with his man then the attack, still being dangerous, would have been a 3 on 3. Any time you can delay the attack then that’s in your favour. Cubas has cost us 3 games in these big elimination matches. This also happened against LAFC 2 years ago. I pray this isn’t corruption
Corruption by Cubas to pull the game for Miami- what a terrible inuendo !!
Corruption by Cubas?? What an asinine comment.
Fray had an very good game against Ahmed, being physical and matching him for speed in 1 v 1s. He was the highest rated Miami defender on the day. Sabbi was the best Cap, Priso, and then White.
It pains me to say this but Gauld was quite poor in his sub appearance with inaccuate passing and poor passing decisions and that killed the attacking momentum. Unfortunately, Sorenson has lost faith in Nelson because he seemed like the more logical replacement.
I assume you’re the same guy who posted this on Reddit? Safe to say you are a complete moron (unless you’re twelve years old in which case you’ll eventually grow up)
No, I am not on Reddit but with which parts of my post do you disagree?
And of course, I thought Ahmed battled hard, despite the flu, and was able to score that equalizer, so he would be in that foursome of top performers.
I just checked in to see if the n.d. guy who called me a moron or twelve years old had some specifics to discuss maturely and respectfully about my post but so far, no response.
I guess it was one of the writers here but they chose to stay anonymous.
“On Miami’s first goal Ocampo did nothing wrong. It’s almost impossible to play a perfect defensive line given how fast the play went. 1st mistake: Messi beats 2 caps players. 2 players should be able to contain 1 player. When watching the reply it looks like Messi has left 3 caps players in his wake.”
Laborda did his job in closing off the touch line. Ahmed got sucked into trying to intercept a pass backwards instead of just forcing Messi to go that way with it and so that looked pretty weak. Berhalter then had to be drawn away from the guy who eventually received Messi’s pass.
On this play Blackmon was in no mans land. He wasn’t marking anyone and wasn’t providing any coverage along the back line. He needed Priso to delay the break as much as possible to allow him to get back. This was a dangerous play and a scoring chance probably was going to happen. But the way it played out left Ocampo no choice but to cut the cross off which turned into the own goal
If you watch it again, Berhalter switched off after passing to Cubas. He should have scanned and dropped a yard back and to the right. Instead he advanced and occupied the same passing lane as Gauld, which clogged the lane. Laborda wasn’t in a good position to receive a pass and seemed to be clogging the other passing lane. So Cubas didn’t seem to have any good options, so he tried to turn it back but Messi read the situation quickly and played it brilliantly. And Blackmon probably should have tracked De Paul’s run and passed Messi off to Pupe. The goal came only a few minutes after the double substitution and that was a huge adjustment to make.
And that’s to take nothing away from how those players performed on the day and throughout the season. They were immense.
Messi was brilliant on the play. He picks his pressuring moments really well.
Genuinely disgusting to accuse a player of corruption, this fanbase is so shit
I have to say Muller should have come out for Gauld and Nelson on for Ahmed. Gauld and White have great chemistry and Gauld is much better in the middle. Also, Im a big Ocampo fan ( I have his shirt ) but I would have preferred Johnson and Laborda out there. My kid and I had so many great times at the games this year and I’ve had tickets since 2011 in the same seats so we’ve seen a lot together and not all good LOL. Well, 207 at Empire and the same at BC Place. I can see how much the youth love the Whitecaps more than ever so the kids are giving it at the Academy right now more than ever. Until next year! Go Caps!!!
More than ever. Man I need to remember by English poetry classes. LOL