VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Whitecaps have advanced to the next round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup tournament after defeating Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa 2-0. This result gave the 'Caps a 3-2 edge on aggregate after they had dropped the first leg 2-1 last week. The Whitecaps will now face Mexican club CF Monterrey in the round of 16 next week.
Brian White was the star of the night, scoring both goals for Vancouver. His first came just after halftime when he headed the ball past Saprissa goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado in the 47th minute. White then solidified the lead with another goal, slotting home a rebound during stoppage time.
From the outset, Vancouver was the more dangerous team, outshooting the visitors 4-2 and registering the only on-target shot during the first half. Canadian forward Ali Ahmed was particularly active, creating multiple chances. He had three of the team's four shots, with the first notable attempt coming early on. Ahmed slipped through the defenders, collected a pass from Pedro Vite, and charged toward goal, only to see Alvarado block his strike.
Ahmed continued to threaten, receiving another pass from teammate Sam Adekugbe at the top of the six-yard box just 34 minutes in, but unfortunately shot wide of the target. The 24-year-old from Toronto could only express his frustration as he momentarily pulled his jersey over his face, clearly disappointed.
White got Vancouver on the board early in the second half, directing a pass from Jayden Nelson beautifully to find the bottom-right corner of the net for his first goal of the 2025 season. The goal came just one day after the Whitecaps announced the signing of White to a two-year contract extension through 2027.
Nelson, 22, also had a significant contribution, having registered his fourth assist of the season with the goal. He had previously helped the team defeat their regional rivals, the Portland Timbers, 4-1 during the season opener just days before.
White was nearly on his way to another goal around the 72nd minute when his shot struck the post from within the six-yard box. Meanwhile, for Saprissa, former Whitecap Kendall Waston nearly equalized when, during the 66th minute, his shot found its way tight to goal, but Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka made the necessary save, completing his first clean sheet of the season.
Waston posed another challenge late in the match as he unleashed a powerful shot from near the penalty spot in the 85th minute, but his effort hit the crossbar, leaving the visitors frustrated.
White capped off his impressive performance with another goal during the first minute of injury time. After collecting the rebound from a corner kick, he quickly sent it past Alvarado, bringing the score to 2-0. This clinched the victory for Vancouver in front of 14,509 fans at B.C. Place.
Looking forward, the Whitecaps now prepare for their upcoming match against CF Monterrey, where they aim to continue their strong performance and advance even farther in the tournament. Coach and players alike remain optimistic, following this solid display against Saprissa and the momentum gained from their recent MLS season opener.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on February 27, 2025.