CONCACAF Cup Round of 16 – Leg 2, Day 2 | OneFootball

Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Monterrey

Both teams tied 3 – 3 on aggregate; Vancouver advances on away goal difference.

The Whitecaps should send Shakira a bouquet and box of chocolates. Her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour just so happened to be playing Estádio BBVA, the home field of Monterrey. No offense to the Canadians, but Shakira is a much bigger draw, and CONCACAF was forced to move the match to the Estadio Corona in neighboring Torreón.

Not that it mattered to Sergio Canales, who took a cross from Luis Reyes, placed a lovely touch into space and belted it back across four separate Vancouver defenders into the left corner. It was a fantastic bit of soccer, and immediately put the hosts in the driver’s seat. Monterrey had nearly all the looks in the first half, but a blatant attempt by Lucas Ocampos to draw a penalty in the 43rd minute drew ire from Whitecaps keeper Isaac Boehmer, and showed that the hosts weren’t quite comfortable with their lead.

When the halftime whistle blew, Vancouver let go of the reins. Applying pressure on the back, and attacking flair up front, it was no surprise when Édier Ocampo slotted home a shot in the exact same position as Canales, 52 minutes earlier. Then in the 77th minute Vancouver struck again. Brian White, recently announced to the USMNT squad, captured a deflected ball with his back to goal, pivoted, then calmly struck it into the right netting. This was a knockout blow to Monterrey, who mounted a furious effort to score in the remaining time. Despite a converted penalty deep into stoppage time, the 2 – 2 draw resulted in their elimination, as CONCACAF still employs the away goal tie-breaker.

Club América vs. Chivas Guadalajara

América advances 4 – 1 on aggregate

Well, this one wasn’t even close. After last week’s defensive debacle that led to Chivas’ one goal advantage, you had to believe that América would come out guns a-blazing. And within six minutes, Brian Rodríguez had given the hosts an equalizer off a brilliant strike to the opposite post. Then, right on the stroke of halftime, Diego Valdés pushed home a second off the Chivas keeper’s parry. You could feel the Chivas fans’ groans of despair.

And the second half didn’t do anything to assure the visitors. Alan Mozo drew his second yellow for an awkward challenge on the edge of the box around one minute after the whistle. Reduced to ten, Chivas couldn’t mount any attack, much less defend, against an América team that simply dominated.

América advance to the CONCACAF quarterfinals where they will face Cruz Azul.

LA Galaxy vs. Herediano

Galaxy move on 4 – 1 in aggregate.

Given the Galaxy’s form since the start of the MLS season, fans had every right to be concerned ahead of this reverse fixture against the Costa Rican league champions. But when Julian Aude deftly redirected Isaiha Parente’s cross off the post, the collective sigh of relief registered on the Richter scale. Parente would notch another assist eight minutes later when his volley would be poked in by Miguel Barry. Galaxy would enter the dressing room on a high.

Happily, there was no harsh come down after the second half started. Gabriel Pec found the Galaxy’s third goal before the 53rd minute, allowing the home team to comfortably coast through the remainder of the match, and even grab a fourth.

I’m not saying this victory will turn around a poor seasonal start from the defending MLS champions, but it sure won’t hurt. Next up for the Galaxy: Tigres UANL.