Whitecaps overturn deficit to advance in CCL

Photo: Gerrit te Hennepe

Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0 Saprissa (Whitecaps advance 3-2 on aggregate)

VANCOUVER, BC–Vancouver Whitecaps advanced to the Round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup by overturning a 2-1 deficit against Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica with a 2-0 second leg win and 3-2 on aggregate. The Whitecaps will now face Monterrey of Liga MX in the next round.

The Whitecaps had numerous chances to go ahead in the first half, but took none of them. However, they would break through in the 47th minute as Jayden Nelson sent a precise diagonal ball into the box that Brian White would head in to even the tie on aggregate.

Saprissa actually outshot the Whitecaps, 17-11, but only two of those 17 were on target. The closest Saprissa got was in the 77th minute as Gerson Torres headed a ball off the post and then again eight minutes later as former Whitecap Kendall Waston headed off the bar.

In the first minute of stoppage time, Sebastian Berhalter’s free kick was saved, but White was there to put in the rebound and send the Whitecaps through to the next round. The first leg against Monterrey will take place on Wednesday at BC Place with the return leg a week later at Estadio Corona. Before that, it’s a return to league play as the Whitecaps host defending MLS champion LA Galaxy on Sunday. Kickoff is at 2pm PT on Apple TV.

Gerrit te Hennepe has the photos from the night at BC Place. You can view a sample below and more by clicking on the link.