There was late drama in the second legs of the Concacaf Champions Cup with ultimately two MLS Sides having advanced into the semi-finals.
Here’s a look at how Inter Miami and the Vancouver Whitecaps made it to that stage.
Round Up
The first quarter final to be concluded was Tigres versus LA Galaxy after a 0-0 draw between the two sides in America. Nicolas Ibanez put the Mexican side in front when he rose highest to Diego Lainez’s cross and nodded it into the far corner. Only a minute later, the lead was doubled as Rafael Carioca played through Uriel Antuna and he managed to remove the LA defender from the game and slot by John McCarthy into the back of the net.
LA Galaxy managed to capitalise on a horror mistake at the back to pull the deficit back to one with Joseph Paintsil rounding the goalkeeper and slotting into an empty net. That scoreline didn’t last for long though and once again it was LA’s lack of aerial ability that made the difference with this time Romulo Zwarg getting his header away and into the net from Lainez’s cross.
Carlos Garces got a goal back for LA as he tapped home at the far post when Zanka flicked on a corner but that wasn’t enough for the reigning MLS champions as Tigres advanced into the quarterfinals.
In the only game to not involve an MLS side Cruz Azul managed to overcome Club America in what was a tight match separated by one goal which was scored by Angel Sepulveda. That sets up a semifinal between the two Mexican sides with a spot in the final available, which will be played in June.
Messi sends Inter Miami through
LAFC came into the second leg with a one goal lead and looked set to advance into the next round when a mix up from the Inter Miami defence allowed Aaron Long to get a shot away which he fired into the back of the net. By that point it was clear the Florida side needed a goal before the break, and they got courtesy of Lionel Messi as he picked the ball up on the edge of the box and finished brilliantly into the top right corner.
The overall scoreline was levelled just before the break when Nico Allen’s chipped delivery was deftly flicked on by Federico Redondo, but it was still LAFC who held the advantage due to away goals. With five minutes to go Inter Miami got the goal that they so importantly needed as a penalty was awarded due to a handball and Messi managed to place it into the right side of the goal with the goalkeeper wrong footed.
Whitecaps stun Pumas in stoppage time
Pumas took on the Vancouver Whitecaps in the final game of the quarter finals and with a 1-1 draw in the first leg it was the Mexican side the held the advantage on away goals. That was evaporated by the 33rd minute as a low cross from Daniel Rios was flicked on by Sebastian Berhalter into the bottom left. The home side levelled minutes later through Guillermo Martinez who smashed into the back of the net after a mistake from Yohei Takaoka in goal for Vancouver.
With the game headed for extra time, Pumas thought they had done it as Ignacio Pussetto header was parried by Takaoka before the Argentinian followed the ball up and scored in off the bar which sparked wild celebrations. The game wasn’t over there though and in the 93rd minute Vancouver won it as Edier Ocampo kept the ball in on the touchline and Tristan Blackmon was there and he rifled the ball into the net to set up a clash with Inter Miami.
