Vancouver Whitecaps blank Saprissa 2-0, advance in CONCACAF Champions Cup

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This article was published 27/02/2025 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VANCOUVER – Jesper Sorensen’s first few games as head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps have been filled with lessons. 

He added yet another Thursday when his team blanked Deportivo Saprissa 2-0 to advance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup — despite some nervy moments late in the matchup.

The result gave the ‘Caps a 3-2 edge in the two-legged aggregate series after a last-minute goal cost Vancouver a 2-1 decision in Costa Rica last week.

“Things can tip very quickly in games like this. And there’s not much room for mistakes or errors over two games,” said Sorensen, who was named Vancouver’s head coach in mid-January. 

“It’s charming and its frustrating in the same way. But that’s what football is about, right? You never know until the game is over.” 

After controlling play for much of the first half, the Whitecaps went up 1-0 in the 47th minute when striker Brian White headed a pass from Jayden Nelson into the bottom-right corner of the net for his first goal of 2025.

“Jayden put a good cross in. I knew if I could play between the lines of the centre backs, find a little bit of space, we put a good ball in, I’d be able to score that header,” White said.

The tally came a day after the Whitecaps announced they had signed the American forward to a two-year extension through 2027. 

Nelson registered his fifth point over two games on the play. The 22-year-old midfielder from Brampton, Ont., contributed three helpers and a goal when the ‘Caps thumped their regional rivals, the Portland Timbers, 4-1 to open the Major League Soccer season Sunday. 

Former Whitecap Kendall Waston came close to netting a goal for Saprissa with a shot from in tight in the 66th minute, but Vancouver ‘keeper Yohei Takaoka dove across his line to snatch the ball out of harm’s way. 

The Japanese netminder made one save on the night to earn his first clean sheet of the season. 

Waston registered Saprissa’s best chance of the night in the 85th minute when he launched a blast from near the penalty spot, sending the ball ricocheting off the crossbar.

Sorensen said his team got “sloppy” in the final minutes of the game when players were unsure whether they should defend their 1-0 lead or push to make it 2-0.

“I didn’t feel comfortable when (Saprissa) had the (corner kicks) in the end,” the coach said. “But that’s what happens when you keep things open. You have to close the door behind you.”

White sealed the win in the first minute of injury time when he collected a rebound off a corner kick and quickly sent it in past Alvarado to give Vancouver a two-goal cushion in front of an announced 14,509 at B.C. Place.

The veteran forward put in a solid performance on Thursday, Sorensen said. 

“Brian as an attacker will always be measured up on how many goals he scores. That’s how it is,” he said. “And to me, he’s just a player that brings the team so many different things. He was very well in the buildup, he was very strong when we needed him to be.”

The Whitecaps outshot Saprissa 11-10 and held a 2-1 edge in on-target shots, but Sorensen said his side could have clinched the win earlier.

“Overall performance, I think that we were, over the two games, the better team and I think we deservedly went through, even though it was a difficult opponent,” he said. “But I would have liked this game to be over a little bit before, to be honest.”

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Vancouver — which earned its spot in the tournament by winning a third straight Canadian Championship last season — will face LIGA MX club CF Monterrey in the round of 16 next week. 

Advancing is a big accomplishment, White said. 

“It’s important,” he said. “Any time you have a chance to play in these kind of competitions, international competitions, it means a lot for the club to kind of represent the Vancouver Whitecaps, Canadian soccer, the MLS. So, we have a tough test against Monterrey.”

Before continuing Champions Cup play, though, the ‘Caps will face the L.A. Galaxy in their MLS home-opener Sunday. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 27, 2025.