Vancouver Whitecaps Draw with Tigres UANL in CONCACAF Champions Cup

The Vancouver Whitecaps had high hopes of achieving a rare victory against Mexican side Tigres UANL in the opening round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. However, Andre-Pierre Gignac shattered their dreams with a last-minute free kick, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

Whitecaps manager, Robert Siboldi, described Gignac’s goal as a ‘beautiful free kick,’ leaving Vancouver disappointed.

The game began with Damir Kreilach opening the scoring for the Whitecaps in the 32nd minute. Kreilach, in his debut season with the Vancouver team, received a well-placed pass from Luis Martins and calmly slotted the ball past Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán.

Vancouver’s head coach, Vanni Sartini, expressed satisfaction with Kreilach’s performance and highlighted his ability to combine well with the team’s two strikers. Sartini also voiced his hope that Kreilach’s goal will be featured on the CONCACAF highlight reel.

The Croatian forward, Kreilach, had an opportunity to score in the 17th minute but narrowly missed connecting with Ryan Gauld’s cross.

Sartini was content with his team’s overall performance, considering the challenge they faced due to a condensed offseason and limited preparation time compared to Tigres.

The Whitecaps believed they had doubled their lead early in the second half when Brian White converted on a failed clearance by a Tigres player. However, video replay showed the goal was offside, thus disallowing it.

This match marked Sartini’s 100th game in charge of the Whitecaps, accumulating a 38-33-29 record during his tenure.

The second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup will take place at Estadio Universitario in San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico on February 14th. The first leg occurred at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., as a result of a scheduling conflict at the Whitecaps’ usual home ground, B.C. Place.

Tigres UANL enters the second leg undefeated in their last five matches, including wins against Leon and Chivas in their 2024 fixtures. The Mexican side has only suffered two losses in their last 20 matches dating back to September 17th, 2023.

Despite facing a tough opponent, coach Sartini expressed confidence in his team’s ability to advance in the competition, expressing their determination to win in Mexico.

Last year, the Whitecaps faced Tigres UANL in the Leagues Cup, losing 5-3 in a penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1 in regular time. The shootout featured a memorable moment when Tigres’ goalkeeper, Nahuel Guzmán, performed a magic trick during the decisive kicks.

Alongside Vancouver, other Canadian teams entered the competition, including CPL champion Forge FC and CPL regular-season winner Cavalry FC.