Vancouver Whitecaps shock Pumas with last-second strike, advance to CCC semis | OneFootball

By Ben Wright

With their Concacaf Champions Cup dreams in the balance, Vancouver Whitecaps FC provided one of the most dramatic moments in club history.

The in-form Canadian side eliminated LIGA MX's Pumas UNAM to reach the CCC semifinals, with Tristan Blackmon's 93rd-minute strike delivering a 2-2 draw in Wednesday's Leg 2 quarterfinal clash in Mexico City. The goal sealed a 3-3 aggregate scoreline that sends Vancouver into the next round on away goals, where they'll meet Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF.

With the series level at 1-1 after Leg 1 at BC Place, Vancouver's Sebastian Berhalter opened Wednesday's scoring in spectacular fashion. The 23-year-old got on the end of Daniel Ríos' cross, acrobatically adjusting mid-jump to backheel the ball past goalkeeper Álex Padilla.

Just four minutes later, Pumas pulled level through Guillermo Martínez. The veteran striker took advantage of a momentary lapse from Vancouver, pouncing on a scuffed clearance following a corner kick to find the net from close range.

Vancouver appeared headed for a heartbreaking exit when Ignacio Pussetto buried his own rebound in the 88th minute, positioning Pumas to advance. But Blackmon cemented himself in Whitecaps lore when he smashed home a volley from close range deep into second-half stoppage time (90+3'), finishing Édier Ocampo's cross with gusto.

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