Report and Reaction: Whitecaps stun Monterrey in monumental night in Mexico

Report and Reaction: Whitecaps stun Monterrey in monumental night in Mexico

Posted on March 12, 2025 by in VANCOUVER WHITECAPS, CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP with 0 Comments

[Photo Credit: CONCACAF.com]

It was a monumental night in Mexico for Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday. A 2-2 draw in Torreón, CF Monterrey’s home away from home for the night, gave the Canadian champions a win on aggregate against the Mexican powerhouse, advancing on away goals after the tie finished 3-3 after the two legs. And it was no less than the Whitecaps deserved after being the better team across the 180 plus minutes.

Trailing to a very early Sergio Canales goal, the Whitecaps fought back in stunning style, dominating the match and grabbing two massive second half away goals from Edier Ocampo and Brian White to put them ahead both on the night and on aggregate. The ‘Caps held off a late Monterrey onslaught, even withstanding a controversial stoppage time penalty call that was dispatched by Sergio Ramos, to make history and win their first ever CONCACAF Champions Cup tie against Mexican opposition and move on to the quarter-finals.

Jesper Sorensen made five changes to his starting line-up from the team that drew 1-1 at BC Place a week ago. Monterrey also brought in some of their heavy hitters, with Sergio Ramos coming in at the back to captain the side.

Keeping Monterrey off the scoreboard for as long as possible was one key aim for Vancouver, but that gameplan came off the rails just four minutes in as they took the game to the Whitecaps early.

Luis Reyes whipped a beautiful ball in from the left that was brought down superbly by Canales. The Spaniard took a lovely touch to the outside to make room for the shot and he drilled the ball low to the far corner past Isaac Boehmer and Rayados had the early breakthrough and increased their lead in the tie.

It was a touch of quality from the veteran Spanish international, but while clearly far from ideal, it didn’t change the dynamic and mindset for the Whitecaps too much.

Trailing by that away goal from the first leg, Vancouver knew they had to score on the night at some point. They were technically still just a goal behind and a leveler from them in this second leg tied everything back up. On the glass half full side, they now had 85 minutes to get it.

Sorensen had said in the pre-game press conference that patience would be the key. They wouldn’t try and chase anything when they didn’t need to and open themselves up. You just feared they were going to face wave after wave of Monterrey attacks and the Liga MX did initially dominate possession and play after the goal, with Vancouver struggling to get anything going. Monterrey smelt blood, but there was to be no more spilled.

Slowly the Whitecaps started to settle and not only get a foothold in the game, but look the better and more threatening side. Set pieces were causing Monterrey problems, but Vancouver just couldn’t get any clear cut chances on goal, and headed in to the break trailing on the night, and in the tie, by a single goal but still very much in it.

The ‘Caps made two changes at the half, with Mathias Laborda and JC Ngando coming on to try and bring some more spark to the side and it worked.

The home side again came out strong to start the half, with Lucas Ocampos blasting over from a good position in the 49th minute.

But then the Whitecaps took over.

Their intricate, quick passing play was a joy to watch but also causing a lot of problems for a susceptible, and proven leaky, Monterrey defence.

Vancouver were getting closer and close with just the final touch deserting them on a couple of occasions, as Ali Ahmed and Ngando were carving their way through the Monterrey backline.

The deserved breakthrough came in the 57th minute after another such move, with Ahmed touching it inside to Pedro Vite, who had the awareness of a streaking Ocampo to his right and he played it out perfectly for the Colombian to rifle it to the back post and the ‘Caps were level.

All tied up on the night and on aggregate, it was now all to play for for both teams with just over half an hour remaining. Extra time was also in play, but the way the game was going, you knew there were more goals in this one and another away goal for Vancouver would make the task all the harder for the home side, who would then need two.

Monterrey almost eased some nerves and almost retook the lead just past the hour mark, with Canales firing inches wide of the right post.

Both teams were attacking in an open game, with half chances unable to be converted. Vancouver were looking the more likely and it wasn’t really that much of a surprise when the ‘Caps were the team that grabbed the next goal, putting themselves in command of the tie.

Andres Cubas forced the turnover about 20 yards from goal and as he and Ahmed powered forward, the ball was slipped in for White, who finished with aplomb past Andrada and the Whitecaps were in dreamland.

Monterrey were stunned, but it was no less than Vancouver deserved. They had bossed nearly the last hour of play and now just had to hold on for the final quarter of an hour and stoppage time to secure the historic victory. The Mexican side needed two and were set to throw everything at the ‘Caps.

They had a huge opportunity to get the first of those two goals in the 81st minute when Isaac Boehmer spilled a Canales free kick. The ball fell to the in-rushing Germán Berterame, but the Mexican international blasted his effort off the bar from close range.

Chances then came at both ends, with neither side able to pull the trigger, and as the game headed into five minutes of stoppage time, the Whitecaps were looking good.

But Concacaf will Concacaf and Monterrey were handed a lifeline when the referee Selvin Brown was called over to review a possible handball in the box from Ranko Veselinovic as a cross came over in the 93rd minute. The replays certainly were not clear and obvious that it even struck the ‘Caps captain’s arm, but the penalty was awarded and Ramos easily tucked away the spot kick in the 97th minute to set Whitecaps nerves on edge.

Referee Brown found another three plus minutes to add on, but the Whitecaps weren’t to be denied and the final whistle sparked jubilant scenes on the Vancouver bench as they defeated Mexican opposition for the first time in the competition and booked their berth in the quarter-finals where either another Mexican giant in Pumas or Costa Ricans Alajuelense await.

These two matches against Monterrey were two of the best performances of the Whitecaps’ MLS era. To produce those while missing key players is all the more impressive, but others have stepped up big time. Ahmed had his best match of the year, and Vite and Ngando have been exceptional.

What’s next on the journey? I can’t wait to find out.

FINAL SCORE: CF Monterrey 2 – 2 Vancouver Whitecaps [Whitecaps win on away goals after 3-3 aggregate score]

ATT: TBC

SCORING SUMMARY:
4’ – MTY – Sergio Canales (Luis Reyes)
57’ – VAN – Édier Ocampo (Pedro Vite)
78’ – VAN – Brian White (Andrés Cubas)
90’+7 – MTY – Sergio Ramos (penalty kick)

STATS:
Possession: MTY 51% – VAN 49%
Shots: MTY 17 – VAN 7
Shots on Goal: MTY 4 – VAN 3
Saves: MTY 1 – VAN 2
Fouls: MTY 18 – VAN 15
Offsides: MTY 0 – VAN 1
Corners: MTY 6 – VAN 5

CARDS (ALL YELLOW):
45’+2 – MTY – Ricardo Chávez

MONTERREY: Esteban Andrada; Ricardo Chávez (Roberto de la Rosa 84’), Stefan Medina, Sergio Ramos, Luis Reyes; Jorge Rodríguez (Jordi Cortizo 84’), Óliver Torres (José Alvarado 70’); Nelson Deossa, Sergio Canales, Germán Berterame; Lucas Ocampos (37.Iker Fimbres 60’) [Substitutes not used: Luis Cárdenas, Gerardo Arteaga, Fidel Ambríz, Érick Aguirre, Héctor Moreno, César Ramos, Tony Leone, Francisco Valenzuela]

VANCOUVER: Isaac Boehmer; Édier Ocampo, Belal Halbouni (Mathías Laborda 46’), Ranko Veselinović, Tristan Blackmon, Tate Johnson (J.C. Ngando 46’); Andrés Cubas, Sebastian Berhalter (Ralph Priso 75’); Pedro Vite, Daniel Ríos (Brian White 58’), 22.Ali Ahmed (Bjørn Inge Utvik 85’) [Substitutes not used: Yohei Takaoka, Adrían Zendejas, Damir Kreilach, Giuseppe Bovalina, Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau, Jeevan Badwal, Liam Mackenzie]

REACTION:

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

JESPER SORENSEN

On advancing:

“I am very happy for [my team], because it is a team that will grow. It is a hard working team, a team that works together. We played a very good game a week ago but only came away 1-1, so we had some things we needed to do. And today we came from behind 1-0 with a bad start from us, and we fought ourselves back into the game. I have only praise for the team to be able to dig themselves into the game and deliver a second half as we did. I thought that was very very good.”

On the two-leg series as a whole:

“Our first game we wanted to come out strong, of course we went behind 1-0 and we know that Monterrey is a strong team with a lot of good players. But I think that we had a good game plan, we had a lot of opportunities the last game. This game, we knew that it would be difficult playing away. They have great fans, that helps them a lot. It was a big game for both teams, we wanted to protect ourselves a little bit to begin with, playing in one structure, then in the second half we wanted to go all-in and play offensively. The only thing that really didn’t succeed in the gameplan today was that we had such a bad start and they got ahead so early. We had hoped that we could get into the game tied, and then we needed to attack in the second half. But the players overcame a bad start.”

On his team’s style of play:

“I think we have the way that we want to play, and it’s an attacking mindset, a strategy where we want to attack our opponents. That’s what we’re going to do. Some times it works better than others, but I think over the two games here I’ve been very happy with what I’ve seen from the team.”

STRIKER BRIAN WHITE

On advancing:

“We knew it was going to be tough coming down to Mexico, it’s not their home stadium but they traveled well, their fans were up for it. It’s a very tough opponent. Credit to the boys for getting the result we needed.”

On team spirit:

“I think it’s been fun. Obviously it’s been tough, a lot of travel, but we have such a good group. Everyone is really enjoying the grind of it. We’re getting results and everyone is performing well. It’s obviously difficult, but we put one foot in front of the next and look forward to the next game.”

On his goal:

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

GOALKEEPER ISAAC BOEHMER

On advancing:

“It means a lot. We went in and showed that we can play with anyone in Mexico or MLS. We made history tonight and that’s a great feeling, now we’re looking forward to the next round.”

On grinding through the schedule:

“We have a lot of camaraderie. We have great depth on this team, and we know that. With guys being out, we know some young guys can step up and do the job, which is important when you have a Wednesday-Saturday schedule.”

      
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Authored by: Michael McColl

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