Just steps away from Inter Miami CF’s stadium in Fort Lauderdale sits a small airport. Yet, on the pitch on Wednesday, Lionel Messi’s Herons saw their dreams of hoisting a Concacaf Champions Cup trophy take off into the night sky.

In the biggest match in the history of Inter Miami, they were played off the pitch by the Vancouver Whitecaps, who booked a place in the Concacaf Champions Cup final with a 3-1 victory on Wednesday at Chase Stadium.

Last season, Miami fell victim to a first-round playoff exit despite being the No. 1 seed and Supporters' Shield winners. With Miami's stars only getting older and not many elite young talents supporting them, another early exit could be on the horizon come postseason time.