Whitecaps stun C.F. Monterrey in historical Champions Cup upset

What an upset! The Vancouver Whitecaps headed to Mexico for their second-leg Concacaf Champions Cup tie with one mission: to silence the Rayados supporters and announce themselves to North America. The Whitecaps are here.

Tristan Blackmon and Ranko Veselinovic during warm-up

Vancouver had the upper hand in the first leg but had to settle for a 1-1 draw, leaving the quarter-finals spot up for grabs. While some Monterrey supporters dismissed their first-leg squad as a "B" team, the reality was debatable—Rayados had rotated their entire XI from their Liga MX game against Santos Laguna. Regardless, the past was the past. The Whitecaps were focused on carrying momentum from that match and their recent MLS win over Montreal into the second leg.

Due to a scheduling conflict with a Shakira concert at Estadio BBVA, the match was moved to Estadio Corona. Monterrey’s lineup this time looked far stronger. Star players like Sergio Ramos, Lucas Ocampos, Sergio Canales, and Oliver Torres—who have played at elite clubs such as Real Madrid, Sevilla, Real Betis, and Real Sociedad—were all in the starting XI. Their experience in La Liga, Ligue 1, and international competition made it clear: Vancouver was facing an uphill battle.

That challenge became even more evident within the first four minutes. A disastrous start saw Monterrey take the lead after a defensive lapse. A cross to the back post found Sergio Canales, who calmly slotted it home. With that goal, Rayados took a 2-1 aggregate lead, putting Vancouver in immediate trouble.

One of the Whitecaps' key objectives was to prevent an early goal, knowing it would give Monterrey a sense of control. However, despite the setback, Vancouver’s mission remained unchanged. Even if the match ended in a scoreless draw, Monterrey would have advanced—so the Whitecaps still needed to score.

Head coach Jesper Sorensen could sense his team lacked the aggression and urgency needed to win the tie. After about 20 minutes, Vancouver finally began to show signs of life. While they generated some attacking play, they struggled to create clear-cut chances.

The halftime whistle blew with Monterrey leading 1-0 and dictating most of the play. Vancouver needed a momentum shift if they wanted to turn the tie around.

After Sorensen’s halftime adjustments and substitutions, Vancouver returned for the second half with a renewed approach. They focused on controlling possession, playing with patience, and ensuring they didn’t expose themselves defensively. Their ball-dominant style—so effective in 2025—had to come into play if they wanted to equalize.

As momentum gradually swung Vancouver’s way, they finally broke through. A brilliant build-up led to Edier Ocampo’s goal, as he struck the ball with ferocity into the bottom-left corner. Credit also goes to Ali Ahmed for his relentless run down the left flank—an incredible show of determination from the youngster.

The game remained tightly contested, but Vancouver capitalized on a crucial moment. Andres Cubas made a brilliant sliding challenge near Monterrey’s box, with the ball bouncing to Ahmed. After a few deflections—ending with a touch from Cubas—Brian White found himself clean through on goal. White calmly slotted the ball past Andrada, giving Vancouver a 3-2 aggregate lead and the crucial away-goals advantage.

From that moment on, the Whitecaps had one task: defend with everything they had. Monterrey needed two goals to advance, but one goal conceded would still see Vancouver through.

Rayados, unwilling to go down without a fight, nearly responded instantly. Berterame struck a shot that rattled off the crossbar—coming dangerously close to changing the game’s trajectory. Vancouver supporters watching from home breathed a sigh of relief as their team’s lead remained intact.

The Whitecaps defended bravely, closing down Monterrey’s attacking lanes and limiting clear-cut chances. However, during stoppage time, controversy struck. Veselinovic was called for a handball inside the box after a VAR review, leading to a Monterrey penalty. Sergio Ramos stepped up and precisely placed his shot past Boehmer.

Despite the late goal, the penalty did not change the outcome. The final whistle confirmed Vancouver’s advancement to the quarter-finals—eliminating C.F. Monterrey due to away goals in a monumental upset

Whitecaps celebrating in the locker room after winning the tie against Monterrey

This victory in the tie is a massive milestone for the Whitecaps. It marks the first time in club history that they have eliminated a Mexican team in the Champions Cup. Vancouver also continues their stellar season, having started their MLS campaign with a franchise-best 3-0-0 record. Jesper Sorensen's early tenure has been impressive, with a record of 4W-1L-2D.

Next, the Whitecaps face Pumas UNAM in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarter-finals. The two teams previously met in the 2023 Leagues Cup Round of 32, where Pumas won 2-0 at BC Place. However, with the way Sorensen has transformed this Vancouver side, nothing is out of reach. The first leg will take place at BC Place on Wednesday, April 2nd, at 6:30 PM PST, with the return leg at Estadio Olímpico Universitario on Wednesday, April 9th, at 7:30 PM PST.

If Vancouver’s momentum continues, they could claim another major scalp. And in a dream scenario, if both Vancouver and Inter Miami advance, Lionel Messi might have to play on the BC Place turf—something Vancouverites would love to witness. Inter Miami have to get through Vancouver's rivals LAFC to reach the semi-finals where they could potentially match up against the Whitecaps in a two-legged affair.

This victory has Whitecaps supporters buzzing about what’s next for the club. Is Jesper Sorensen the coach to unlock Vancouver’s true potential? If the team continues at this pace, they will be challengers for both the MLS and the Champions Cup. Their next opponent is away at FC Dallas in MLS, let's see if the Whitecaps would continue their perfect record in MLS play.

Vancouver post-match after winning the tie versus Monterrey