Whitecaps drop Leagues Cup opener to Atlante

Vancouver Whitecaps 0-1 Atlante

VANCOUVER, BC–Vancouver Whitecaps opened Leagues Cup play with a loss against Liga MX side Atlante, 1-0, at BC Place on Tuesday night, It was a makeshift lineup for this match that saw Thomas Müller and Brian White on the bench and the 5-3-2 formation employed.

However, the first best chances of the match went to the visitors. Luis Puentes was in on goal in the 23rd minute, but his shot was saved by Issac Boehmer. In the 40th minute, though, Atlante would strike. Jhojan Julio took possession of a ball headed up in the air by Edier Ocampo and shot it off the post and in for what would be the game’s only score.

Rayan Elloumi got a good chance for the Whitecaps to pull level, but it was saved by Oscar Jimenez. Emmanuel Sabbi had a couple of chances early in the second half, but both of those shots were denied by Jimenez. Julio himself had two more chances to add to Atlante’s lead, but both went wide.

Next up for the Whitecaps is FC Juarez at BC Place on Friday (7:30pm PT, Apple TV), while Atlante are away to Real Salt Lake on Saturday (8pm MT, Apple TV).

Photos by Gerrit te Hemmepe