Whitecaps through to CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals with upset of CF Monterrey

Ali Ahmed of Canada's Vancouver Whitecaps, left, and Stefan Medina of Mexico's Monterrey fight for the ball during a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match at Corona stadium in Torreon, Mexico, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jesus Gonzalez)

TORREÓN — The Vancouver Whitecaps toppled a giant on Wednesday.

Going up against Spanish superstar Sergio Ramos and his CF Monterrey teammates in a hostile Mexican stadium, the ‘Caps knew they were in for a tough test.

Instead of wilting under the pressure, Vancouver rose to the challenge, earning a 2-2 draw that moved the club on to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

“I think that’s what we showed tonight, that we were up for the challenge and that we can tango with them here,” said goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer.

The Major League Soccer club took a victory on away goals after the two-legged round-of-16 series finished with a 3-3 aggregate score. The ‘Caps and Rayados also battled to a 1-1 draw at B.C. Place on March 5.

The Whitecaps were granted the win because they scored two away goals in the series, while Monterrey had one.

Vancouver is just the second MLS team since 2008 to beat a LIGA MX side to advance in the Champions Cup, following Columbus Crew who accomplished the feat against Tigres in the 2024 quarterfinals.

“We knew it was going to be tough coming down to Mexico,” said ‘Caps striker Brian White, who came off the bench to score in the 78th minute. ”A tough opponent, so credit to the boys for getting the result that we needed.”

Vancouver played without captain Ryan Gauld on Wednesday after the Scottish attacking midfielder went down in the team’s 2-0 victory over CF Montreal in MLS play last Saturday.

The Whitecaps have said Gauld suffered a left knee capsule sprain and will be out “a few weeks.”

“We have a lot of camaraderie. We have great depth on this team and we know that,” Boehmer said. ”So guys being out, we know some young guys can step up and do the job, which is important when you have a (packed) schedule.”

Monterrey’s Sergio Canales opened the scoring in the fourth minute, collecting a cross into the box and slotting it in past Boehmer without hesitation.

The Whitecaps regrouped and began to control play late in the first half, then carried the momentum into the second.

“We know that we can play fast, we know that we have some players that can really move the ball fast, get to the right spots we want to go to and then we can attack from there,” said Vancouver’s head coach, Jesper Sorensen. ”Really, we succeeded with that in the second half and I was really happy with that.”

Pedro Vite set up the equalizer in the 57th minute, chipping a pass to Ocampo. The Ecuadorean wingback blasted a shot past Monterrey ‘keeper Esteban Andrada to level the score at 1-1 with his first goal as a Whitecap.

White — who came on for Daniel Rios in the 58th minute — gave Vancouver the lead in the 78th, sending a right-footed shot in from near the penalty spot to give Vancouver a 2-1 lead. It was the American striker’s fourth goal across all competitions this season.

“The ball just seemed to pop out to me and I was able to turn and get the finish right,” White said. ”So just happy I was able to put that goal in and make it difficult for them to come out of this.”

Monterrey came within inches in the 81st minute when Canales sent a ball just wide of the post off a free kick. Nelson Deossa Suarez got the rebound and directed it on net, only to see the shot ping off the crossbar.

Rayados were gifted a penalty kick in the seventh minute of injury time when officials determined after a video review that Vancouver defender Ranko Veselinovic took a ball off his hand inside the penalty area.

Ramos — who did not travel to Vancouver for the first leg of the series — took the penalty kick. He stutter stepped, then sent a rolling shot into the bottom corner of the net to level the score at 2-2.

Sorensen said he had “only praise” for his team after Wednesday’s result.

“I think the good thing is that the players always play with the right intentions,” he said. “The way we want to play, we always try and execute. Sometimes it works better than others. And football is also a game of mistakes. But I think we are building confidence. And that’s a good thing because then we can become a better team.”

The Whitecaps are now undefeated in their last six outings across all competitions (4-0-2) and will look to start the MLS campaign with a fourth straight league win when they visit FC Dallas on Saturday.

It’s been a busy start to the campaign, but one the team is relishing, White said.

“I think it’s been fun. I think everyone’s really been enjoying it,” he said. ”Obviously it’s tough, it’s a lot of games. But I think we have such a good group that everyone’s really enjoying the grind and we’re getting good results. I think we’re performing well.”

Vancouver will face either fellow LIGA MX side Pumas UNAM or Costa Rica’s LD Alajulense in the quarterfinals.

There’s no preference between the two, Boehmer said.

“Wherever we’ve got to go, we just want to get the job done.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2025.