Vancouver Whitecaps Seek Upset Over Monterrey in Champions Cup Leg 2

VANCOUVER, BC – The Vancouver Whitecaps FC travel to Torreón, Mexico, for the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 series against CF Monterrey on Wednesday, March 12, at 5:30 p.m. PT. After a thrilling 1-1 draw in the first leg at BC Place, Vancouver aims to pull off an upset against the five-time champions.

CF Monterrey holds a slight advantage due to Roberto de la Rosa‘s away goal scored in the first match. The aggregate winner will advance to the quarterfinals, facing either Pumas UNAM (Mexico) or Alajuelense (Costa Rica) next month. In the event of a deadlock on aggregate, the match will proceed to extra time and possibly penalty kicks.

Despite being outshot 19-7 in the first leg, the Whitecaps managed to secure a crucial equalizer thanks to Belal Halbouni’s late goal. Captain Ryan Gauld, however, sustained a significant knee injury over the weekend against Cruz Azul and is set to miss this pivotal match.

Vancouver enters the encounter with an impressive start to the MLS season, featuring a perfect 3-0-0 record, which has placed them at the top of the Western Conference. This marks the first time in the club’s history that they have won their first three matches to start a season.

New head coach Jesper Sørensen is optimistic about continuing this momentum despite the absence of Gauld. “We’ve built a solid team spirit, and even without Ryan’s contributions, we believe in our ability to compete,” Sørensen said during a press conference.

Monterrey, on the other hand, is looking to leverage their home-field advantage at Estadio Corona, as their regular venue, BBVA Stadium, is occupied for a concert. Even with the venue change, the Rayados have shown consistency, having drawn their last league match against Cruz Azul.

Vancouver’s past encounters with Mexican sides have been challenging, holding a record of 1 win, 4 losses, and 4 draws heading into this match. The Whitecaps will need to secure a victory by at least two goals or match the aggregate score to advance.

Tickets for the match sold out quickly, indicating significant interest from both Monterrey and Vancouver supporters. The atmosphere at Estadio Corona is expected to be electric as fans look forward to an exhilarating second leg.

The broadcast will be available on various platforms, including FS1, while streaming options include FuboTV, the Fox Sports app, and the Fox Sports website. Fans overseas may need to utilize a VPN to access their usual streaming services.