Whitecaps draw Monterrey in Champions Cup

Photo: Gerrit te Hennepe

Vancouver Whitecaps 1-1 CF Monterrey

VANCOUVER, BC–Vancouver Whitecaps will likely need a win next week in Monterrey to advance in the Concacaf Champions Cup after drawing CF Monterrey, 1-1, at BC Place on Wednesday night.

Despite outshooting Monterrey, 19-7, and 6-2 on shots on target, the Whitecaps required an 86th minute strike from Belel Halbouni to pull the match level after

Monterrey took the lead in the 25th minute after Erick Aguirre set up long ball to Roberto de la Rosa, who then dribbled across the field and fired a low right-footed shot that hit the far post and rolled into the net.

The Whitecaps, and Ryan Gauld in particular, were repeatedly denied by the Monterrey defense until the 86th minute. It was Gauld at that time who sent a free kick into the box which would be headed in by Halbouni to level the tie.

The second leg in Monterrey will take place next Wednesday (5:30pm PT, OneSoccer). Before that, the Whitecaps host CF Montreal on Saturday (5:30pm PT, Apple TV).

For more of Gerrit te Hennepe’s photos from the evening, please click on the link.