The Vancouver Whitecaps FC have made a remarkable leap to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, overcoming the Mexican powerhouse Pumas UNAM with a thrilling 2-2 draw at Estadio Olímpico Universitario on April 9, 2025. This result allowed the Whitecaps to advance on away goals after the aggregate score stood at 3-3. The Caps will now face Inter Miami CF, featuring superstar Lionel Messi, in the next stage of the tournament.
The match was nothing short of dramatic, with Tristan Blackmon scoring a stoppage-time equalizer that sent the Whitecaps fans into a frenzy. Vancouver had initially taken the lead in the 33rd minute through Sebastian Berhalter, who executed a clever backheel shot past Pumas goalkeeper Alex Padilla, giving the Whitecaps a 1-0 advantage. However, the Mexican club quickly responded, with Guillermo Martinez equalizing just four minutes later in the 37th minute after a scramble in the box.
As the game progressed, Pumas seized control and took the lead in the 88th minute with a goal from Ignacio Pussetto. It seemed as though the Whitecaps were on the verge of elimination, trailing 2-1 and facing a daunting challenge to recover. But in a stunning twist, Blackmon found the net three minutes into stoppage time, finishing a perfectly-placed cross from Edier Ocampo to seal the draw and ensure Vancouver's advancement on away goals.
“The team worked hard tonight, and we put ourselves in position to score late,” Blackmon said after the match. “It was always not pretty, but we showed grit, and at the end of the day, we got the result that we wanted.”
This victory marks a significant milestone for the Whitecaps, who are now the first team in Major League Soccer (MLS) history to advance past a Liga MX opponent in Mexico without having taken a lead into the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The Whitecaps have been on a roll this season, boasting the best record in the MLS with a 5-1-1 start, and they currently sit atop the Western Conference standings.
Vancouver's journey to the semifinals has been no easy feat. They have defeated three Mexican teams in the tournament: Santos Torreon, Monterrey Rayados, and now Pumas. This is the Whitecaps' first appearance in the Champions Cup semifinals since 2017, and they are eager to claim the title for the first time.
Looking ahead, the Whitecaps will host the first leg of their semifinal matchup against Inter Miami on either April 23 or 24, 2025. The exact dates and times will be announced on April 10, 2025. The second leg will take place in Florida between April 29 and May 1, 2025. Fans are particularly excited to see if Messi will make the trip to Vancouver, as his previous absence from a sold-out B.C. Place last season left many disappointed.
“First of all, we need to recover from this and then we will be ready for that,” Blackmon added, reflecting on the team's preparation for the upcoming clash with Miami.
Inter Miami advanced to the semifinals earlier in the day, thanks to Messi's two goals in a dramatic 3-1 comeback victory over Los Angeles FC. The matchup between the Whitecaps and Miami promises to be an exciting showdown, with both teams looking to secure a spot in the finals.
Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen, who took over the team in mid-January, expressed his pride in the team's performance. “It’s amazing being part of something like this,” he said. “Getting all this so early on, for me as a new coach, is unbelievable. But mostly, I’m happy for everybody because a lot of people have been working hard in this club for many years, and getting to this stage in the CONCACAF is not normal. And we really have to celebrate and enjoy it.”
The Whitecaps will return to MLS action on April 12, 2025, when they host Austin FC, but all eyes will be on their upcoming semifinal tie against Inter Miami. With the excitement building around this historic matchup, fans are eagerly anticipating the chance to see Messi on the pitch at B.C. Place.
