Whitecaps see off Cartagines in Concacaf play

Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0 CS Cartagines (Whitecaps advances 2-0 on aggregate)

VANCOUVER, BC–Last year’s runners-up advanced in the first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup over Costa Rican side CS Cartagines with a 2-0 win at BC Place following a 0-0 draw last week in the first leg. The Whitecaps fielded a mostly makeshift lineup with one eye on Saturday’s league match against Toronto.

Cartagines had their eye on an upset and kept the Whitecaps off the scoresheet in the first half. Most notably, keeper Kevin Briceñoo stopped a Brian White penalty in the 40th minute. However, Vancouver finally found the breakthrough in the 58th minute as an outswinging corner went to the feet of Kenji Cabrera who struck first time to give the Whitecaps the lead.

Photo: Gerrit te Hennepe

Cartagines would have a couple of chances to snatch an away goal, but Sebastien Berhalter would score an insurance goal in the 80th minute to settle the tie. With the win, the Whitecaps set up a second round tie with Seattle Sounders FC. The first leg will at BC Place with a date to be determined. The return leg will take place at One Spokane Stadium in Spokane on March 18th due to World Cup preparations at Lumen Field.

This Saturday, the Whitecaps take on Toronto FC at BC Place. Kickoff is at 6:30pm PT on Apple TV.

Photos by Gerrit te Hennepe