Ladies and gentlemen this is what we have been waiting for, as the Leagues Cup Round of 32 is set and we have a good one to begin with. Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Pumas square off this Wednesday at BC Place at 10:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV for a spot in the next round and to move one step closer for the trophy.
Both teams are coming off remarkable comeback wins to secure a spot in this stage of the tournament, as they were both down in their last group match with a ticket to the elimination round on the line. Whitecaps FC saw how Club Tijuana started off strong with a goal in the 8th minute to put the pressure on them, however they answered the call.
The Canadians came roaring back in the second half with three goals to flip the score in their favor. Fafa Picault, Levonte Johnson and Pedro Vite put the ball in the back of the net for the home team to get the 3-1 win and finish as the best team in West 7. These players look to be a key part of the Vancouver game plan heading into a match against a team with a lot of international experience.
UNAM, on the other hand, had to trust their leaders in order to extend a hard-fought game against CF Monterrey and later win it from 12 yards. After being down a goal early in the second half, it was Rogelio Funes Mori who delivered a strong header after a long cross to tie the game in the 80th minute to force penalty kicks. In that instance, goalkeeper Julio Gonzalez became the hero after saving two penalty shots to go along with his eight saves in regulation. Pumas got the extra point and punched their ticket to the next round as the second-place team out of West 1.
Whitecaps FC will look to erase the memory of last year’s Round of 32 performance. They were leading Tigres into the second half of the game thanks to an early Pedro Vite goal, but it was André-Pierre Gignac who tied the score and Vancouver ultimately lost in penalty kicks. Los Auriazules also dropped their only knockout round game in the previous edition of the tournament, after a 1-0 loss against Club Queretaro, so they are determined to advance in 2024.
There is no extra motivation needed for this one, as Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Pumas will try to feed off their most recent results and battle on the pitch for a spot in the Round of 16 of the most important North American tournament, as they have their eyes on the Leagues Cup trophy.
