The Vancouver Whitecaps needed a miracle and it came.
They pulled off one of the greatest wins of their MLS era. They did it at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City with the altitude and without Ryan Gauld, Sam Adeugbe and Jayden Nelson. It looked like their CONCACAF Champions Cup dreams were over, but they weren’t.
The season is not even two months old but the 2025 Whitecaps are an exciting team that doesn’t let adversity get to them. What a match this was, let’s break it all down.
First Half: Dealing with the altitude
The altitude of Mexico City was going to be tough for the Whitecaps to handle. The ball traveled faster and so did Pumas early on. They looked very aggressive. The Whitecaps had trouble stringing passes together as if the ball was filled with helium. Ali Ahmed in particular, had trouble getting on the long balls and his first touch kept failing him. Luckily, the Whitecaps backline and Yohei Takaoka were locked in early. Ranko Veselinovic and Tristan Blackmon both said “You shall not pass” to Guillermo Martinez and Leonardo Suarez.
Vancouver slowly got settled into the game. It was the Whitecaps that got the breakthrough courtesy of this great back-heel from Sebastian Berhalter. Pedro Vite and Daniel Rios did a great job catching Pumas off guard with the quick transition.
What a goal this was. You might want to watch it more than once.
But all good things come to an end. Unfortunately, the lead vanished like a fart in the wind on a corner kick, just like in leg one. Adalberto Carrasquilla was left alone, and Takaoka managed to make the save but Martinez buried the rebound. The lead lasted four minutes for the Whitecaps. Game on.
The Whitecaps needed to stay focused and continued to press and attack and maintain their structure. This game was a battle and it was only half over.
Second Half: Down and Out…Or Not!
Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sørensen wasted no time throwing the chips in. Rios was subbed on for White.
But Pumas were lurking like sharks who smelled blood. Takaoka had to make two big saves off Suarez and Martinez. Pumas also tried to turn on the antics that they displayed in leg one. The Whitecaps had to keep their heads cool. Edier Ocampo and Ruben Duarte got into a shoving match and both got booked. The dark arts are a part of CONCACAF, and Vancouver needed to cast their own spell.
But Pumas had the Whitecaps under siege as the half went on. However, Pumas were wasting their chances. Vancouver was hanging by a thread and looked gassed as the altitude was again starting to get to them. The defenders started losing their men and getting flat-footed.
The Whitecaps had a great chance to get the winner as Vite split the defence around the 80th minute. But the substitute, Jeevan Badwal flubbed the ball at his feet. That would have been a great moment for the 19-year-old from Surrey BC.
But life has a way of moving your past wants and hopes. The Whitecaps got caught ball-watching and Takaoka stopped Ignacio Pussetto, but not the rebound. Dagger.
Scratch that, the Uno reverse card was played by the Whitecaps. Ocampo found Blackmon all alone in the box and he tapped it in arguably the biggest goal of the Whitecaps MLS era.
This is what soccer and sports are all about: moments like this. Just when it looked over, the Whitecaps said: “We’re so back.” They rose from the coffin like The Undertaker and delivered the final blow.
Bring on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. Hopefully, he will make the trip this time.
Stat of the match
According to FotMob, Vancouver had one big chance in the entire match. You can figure out which one that was, it won’t be too hard.
What was said
“You have this spark of belief always that you can do something,” said Sørensen on the victory. “Then, it’s up to the players if it could actually happen and it did.”
The Whitecaps head coach was asked about how his team adjusted to the altitude.
It is very different compared to playing at BC, (Place) said Sørensen. “With the ball, the way it moves in the air and we also play with a different ball in the CONCACAF tournament. So, it was not ideal…that we couldn’t train yesterday. In the end, it was difficult conditions…but we managed to go through anyway.”
According to Mexican reporter Fabrizio Dominguez Castilla, the Whitecaps arrived in Mexico City the night before.
Sørensen spoke about the upcoming semi-finals against Miami.
“I think it’s exciting for everybody,” he said. “I think we’re up against a team that has the best player, that’s been playing for the many years, maybe the best ever to play the game. I think it must be exciting for football fans, for everybody. to come to support us, that would be great. So I think my initial thought is that we’re not there for the experience. We’re there to move on to the final.”
Tweet of the match
For the second time in two days, a Vancouver sports team snatched victory from the hands of defeat. At least the Whitecaps still have hope for the playoffs.
Wrap-up
The Whitecaps resume MLS action on Saturday as Austin FC comes to BC Place. Kickoff for that is at 4:30 pm Pacific.
The CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final first leg will be in Vancouver. It will most likely be played on April 24, as BC Place has an AC/DC concert on the 22nd. The second leg from Miami will be on April 29, April 30 or May 1st. More details will be announced Thursday morning.
