It took four halves of football over the two-leg draw, but the Vancouver Whitecaps got the job done over C.S. Cartaginés in the first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Goals from Kenji Cabrera and Sebastian Berhalter in the second half secured the win and means that the Whitecaps will face the Seattle Sounders in the Round of 16.
Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sørensen said it wasn’t the best start, but he was happy with the overall performance.
“We made some stupid decisions [in the first half], but it got better and better,” he said. “In the second half, I think we really pushed the gas pedal down.”
The first 20 minutes played out in a similar fashion to the first leg. The Whitecaps dominated possession but found it difficult to penetrate inside the 18-yard box.
Cartaginés were doing their best to slow the game and take any attacking tempo out of it. However, this was aided by the Whitecaps largely playing in second gear.
Chances did come as time wore on. Brian White’s effort from a yard out in the 25th minute was cleared off the line by a Cartaginés defender.
The Whitecaps were awarded a penalty in the 39th minute after Fernán Faerron was judged to have handled the ball inside the 18-yard box in what appeared to be a harsh call. Yet given it was, and Brian White stepped up.
White’s strike was towards the bottom left corner of the net, but it was a hesitant take. It left enough for Cartaginés’ keeper, Kevin Briceno, to palm it away.
The second half saw Thomas Müller enter, giving the Whitecaps a boost. The German star had a solid chance blocked in the 52nd minute.
White’s header moments later went off the post. White had a second heading attempt a minute later, only for it to be grabbed by Briceno.
The positive start to the second half was rewarded in the 58th minute when Berhalter’s corner was headed in by Cabrera. Cabrera was unmarked at the far post. The ball was touched on the way to the Peruvian international, but his quick thinking set it over the line.
Berhalter added one for his own in the 80th minute. AZ Jackson, who had come on as a substitute minutes earlier, entered the 18-yard box and found the American midfield coming in from the other side.
The initial shot from Berhalter was blocked, but the rebound fell right back to him. He didn’t make any mistakes with the second attempt.
Goals difficult to find for Whitecaps
Over their three matches so far, the Whitecaps have had plenty of chances. They have outshot their opponents 49-22 (15-2 on target).
But they have only found three goals over that time. None of their goals have come from strikers.
“I am not concerned with the lack of finished,” Sørensen said. “We’ve not had the qualities that we would hope for. But I would be more concerned if we would not have chances. We will score. And we will also be more efficient than we have been as of late.”
Sorensen said this will come. They are at the beginning of the season and are still waiting for players to react their full match fitness and understanding.
“We have to start relaxing a little bit more. I think we also see today that some of the things that we play a little bit too fast, a bit too hectic. We have to slow down a little bit and have patience and not try to overdo stuff.
A familiar foe in the Round of 16
Cascadia rivals Seattle Sounders are up next in the Champions Cup. The Whitecaps won the home match in MLS last year 3-0 with a much-depleted squad right after the Champions Cup final. They drew the away match later in the season.
Seattle received a bye in the first round of this year’s competition.
Up next
The Whitecaps are back at it on the weekend. They play Toronto FC at BC Place on Saturday, February 28.
Kick-off is at 6:30 p.m.
