Vancouver Whitecaps beat Pumas and will face Messi’s Inter Miami in Champions Cup semis

By Canadian Press on April 9, 2025.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Tristan Blackmon scored a stoppage-time equalizer to help Vancouver Whitecaps earn a 2-2 draw with Pumas on Wednesday and book a spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.

Sebastian Berhalter put Vancouver ahead in the 33rd minute but the Mexican club responded with goals from Guillermo Martinez in the 37th and Ignacio Pussetto in the 88th to take a 2-1 lead. Blackmon sealed the victory three minutes into stoppage time and the Whitecaps secured the semifinal spot on away goals.

The first leg of the series ended in a 1-1 draw. Vancouver has not played in the Champions Cup semifinals since 2017 and is trying to win the tournament for the first time.

To do that, they must eliminate Inter Miami, which advanced 3-1 victory over LA FC to qualify for the semifinals for the first time.

In the other side of the tournament’s bracket, six-time CONCACAF champion Cruz Azul will face off in the semifinals against 2020 champion Tigres.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The Associated Press