MEXICO CITY — In a dramatic turn of events, Tristan Blackmon scored a crucial equalizer in stoppage time, allowing the Vancouver Whitecaps to draw 2-2 against Pumas. This result earned Vancouver a spot in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where they will face Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami. Vancouver initially took the lead when Sebastian Berhalter scored in the 33rd minute, but the Mexican team quickly retaliated with Guillermo Martinez’s goal in the 37th minute. Ignacio Pussetto seemed to seal the game for Pumas with a strike in the 88th minute, but Blackmon’s late heroics three minutes into stoppage time ensured the Whitecaps advanced on away goals.
“We worked tirelessly and seized our chance at the end,” Blackmon noted. “While it wasn’t always pretty, our determination shone through, helping us secure the desired outcome.” The draw in the second leg followed a 1-1 result in the first leg. Vancouver, hoping to win the tournament for the first time, hasn’t reached the Champions Cup semifinals since 2017. Their next challenge is eliminating Inter Miami, who progressed to their first semifinals after a 3-1 win over LA FC.
“There is a big challenge ahead,” Blackmon remarked. “But, we need to focus on recovering first before we prepare for the next battle.” Along their path to the semifinals, the Whitecaps triumphed over three Mexican teams — Santos Torreon, Monterrey Rayados, and Pumas. They boast the best record in MLS this season.
On the opposite side of the competition’s bracket, Cruz Azul, with a historical six-time win in CONCACAF, is set to face the 2020 champions, Tigres, in the semifinals. Pumas, a favored team in Mexico, sought to reach the semifinals for the first time since their runner-up finish in 2022.