In a thrilling night of CONCACAF Champions Cup action, the Vancouver Whitecaps clinched a place in the semifinals after a heart-stopping 2-2 draw against Pumas UNAM in Mexico City. With the aggregate score level at 3-3, the Canadian side advanced on away goals and will now meet Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in what promises to be one of the most anticipated fixtures in club history.

The Whitecaps entered the second leg with a slim 1-0 advantage, but Pumas quickly turned the tie on its head. After Sebastian Berhalter gave Vancouver a 1-0 lead on the night with a clever backheel finish, the Mexican giants responded with two second-half goals. Guillermo Martínez equalized before Ignacio Pussetto appeared to send Pumas through with a late strike in the 88th minute.

But Vancouver refused to back down.

With the clock ticking into stoppage time, Édier Ocampo delivered a pinpoint cross that found defender Tristan Blackmon at the back post. Blackmon kept his composure and smashed home a dramatic volley in the 93rd minute, silencing the home crowd and sending the Whitecaps into their first CONCACAF semifinal since 2017.

“The team worked hard tonight,” said a jubilant Blackmon after the match. “It wasn’t always pretty, but we showed grit, and at the end of the day, we got the result we wanted.”

Vancouver head coach Jesper Sørensen, who is in his first season with the club, was full of praise for his squad and staff. “It’s amazing being part of something like this,” he said. “I’m happy for everybody at this club because a lot of people have worked hard for many years. Reaching this stage in CONCACAF is not normal it’s special.”

Awaiting them in the semifinals is Inter Miami, who completed a remarkable 3-1 comeback over LAFC, led by none other than Lionel Messi. The Argentine maestro scored twice and provided an assist, proving once again that age has done little to dull his brilliance.

The first leg of the semifinal will take place at BC Place in Vancouver, where a packed stadium is expected to welcome Messi and Miami’s star-studded squad. The return leg will be held at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

This matchup will pit Vancouver’s gritty team spirit and resilience against Inter Miami’s firepower and international flair. For the Whitecaps, it’s not just a shot at continental gloryn it’s a chance to test themselves against one of the game’s greatest players on one of the region’s biggest stages.