LIVE UPDATES | Vancouver Whitecaps down by 1 against Inter Miami as 2nd half of MLS Cup final underway

george vancouver hopes Whitecaps Cinderella flavour ends with MLS transfuse win

Vancouver Whitecaps gear up for Major League Soccer Cup final

Vancouver Whitecaps on their excitement for the MLS Cup

Vancouver Whitecaps fans across B.C.’s Lower Mainland hyped for MLS Cup final

Why fans are kicking up a fuss for the Vancouver Whitecaps

#TheMoment the Vancouver Whitecaps advanced to their first MLS Cup final

Thomas Müller makes his debut for the Vancouver Whitecaps

Vancouver Whitecaps' star addition Thomas Müller touches down at YVR

German ambassador to Canada ecstatic over Vancouver Whitecaps' Thomas Müller signing

Vancouver Whitecaps CEO says intention is to keep team in city with 'no plan B'

That first half flew by. It was fast, physical and intense from the start.

The energy dropped a little after the first half-hour, and that seemed to allow the Whitecaps to take control of the game and ask more questions of Miami's defence as they sought an equalizer, with several good chances on goal.

Vancouver might also feel like they should have had a penalty in the 25th minute when Sabbi went down in the box. A replay shows he made contact with Rodríguez's foot, but the referee waved away the Whitecaps' claims. I've seen those decisions go the other way.

The Herons got off to a dream start with an early own-goal from Ocampo that has been the difference so far.

After that, the Whitecaps regrouped, drawing several free kicks and a few prime scoring chances later in the half.

Head coach Jesper Sorensen told Apple TV at halftime that after a poor start, the ‘Caps found a rhythm by the end of the first.

The Whitecaps finished with three shots on goal to Miami’s two and had 247 total passes compared to 147 by Miami.

Sebastian Berhalter’s free kick in the 33rd minute went into the centre of the box and Brian White got his head on it, but Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo caught comfortably.

Minutes later, Emmanuel Sabbi had a point-blank chance but Rio Novos held his ground to make another save.

Thomas Müller had another chance with a header from the penalty spot, but it’s still 1-0.

David Beckham is in the stands at Chase Stadium. He is of course the president and co-owner of the Miami club and a two-time MLS champion as a player himself. (He won back-to-back championships with the L.A. Galaxy in 2011 and 2012.)

The referee has handed out a pair of yellow cards in a short amount of time. Whitecaps forward Brian White drew a yellow in the 17th minute after tangling with Miami defender Maximiliano Falcón.

Inter Miami’s Baltasar Rodríguez was shown a yellow card four minutes earlier.

It's a sea of blue and white among the stands here at B.C. Place. We’re hearing a lot of cheers, but also seeing a lot of fans on the edge of their seats.

Fireworks and pink smoke exploded throughout the Stadium after Miami scored. The crowd erupted into a frenzy.

The mass of Whitecaps supporters are visibly quietened in their end of the stadium.

After the goal celebration, some of the Southsiders resume their cheers, willing their team back into the game.

That was an unfortunate own goal to concede for Ocampo, but when Allende broke through on goal with Silvetti lurking on his left it looked like there would only be one outcome, no matter who scored.

It's a tough start for the 'Caps, who had absorbed Miami's pressing game really well in the first few minutes. Vancouver now needs to calm the game and not risk going further behind.

It's an own-goal off Whitecaps defender Édier Ocampo.

Rival fans are on both ends of the stadium here.

The 20,000-plus-seat Chase Stadium appears to be at capacity at gametime, and it's a hot one — 27 C at the time of kickoff.

On the north end of the arena, thousands of Miami's diehard fans, collectively known as La Familia, wave flags and bang on drums while cheering on the team.

Aptly seated on the south end of the stadium, a sea of white comprised of the Vancouver Southsiders and other Whitecaps supporters fill up about two-and-a-half sections of seating, waving flags and banners of their own.

You can feel the excitement — and tension — in the hot Fort Lauderdale air.

---

---