A Wild Night In CONCACAF Champions Cup

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Hooligan Soccer

·10 April 2025

A Wild Night In CONCACAF Champions Cup

We’re going to start with tonight’s games. Both were high energy pure soccer entertainment that had no shortage of drama. Yes, one of the matches featured a particular player called Lionel Messi, but that’s not where we kick things off.

Pumas UNAM 2 – 2 Vancouver Whitecaps

Final aggregate score was 3 – 3. Vancouver advances due to the away goal rule.

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In contrast to fellow MLS club LA Galaxy (see below), Vancouver have had a charmed start to the 2025 campaign. They are one of the strongest teams in the MLS, having revitalized under new manager Jesper Sørensen.

Both first half goals from either side were world-class. Sebastian Berhalter’s mid-air back-heel redirect defied gravity and physics to give the visitors the lead. Guillermo Martínez’s powerful volley off Yohei Takeoka’s reactive save was a worthy equalizer.

In the second half, Pumas’ propensity for theatrics threatened to ruin what was an otherwise entertaining match. That dive and histrionics by Rúben Duarte in the 60th minute after getting brushed by Édier Ocampo was an utter embarrassment. Similarly, Pablo Monroy’s “cramp” and subsequent stretchering off the pitch was as cynical as it was transparent time-wasting.

Vancouver keeper Takaoka had a rum evening. The first Pumas goal came off his save; it would happen again for their second. His save of Ignacio Pussetto’s header was strong and fast, and his parry unfortunately fell right back to his feet. Pussetto managed to keep not only his balance, but also the resulting shot on frame.

It looked all over for Vancouver.

OH MY GOD. Did that just happen? What an effort by Édier Ocampo to chase the ball down to the line and whip it across the face of goal… straight into the foot of Tristan Blackmon. This was a 93rd minute sucker-punch to Pumas. Blackmon got the only goal in the Caps’ win against Dallas last month, but this one dwarfs it.

Inter Miami 3 – 1 LAFC

Miami advance 3 – 2 on aggregate

On a night where every story you read will praise Lionel Messi and elevate him unto the status of angel-here-on-the-pitch, I’m going to take a different tack. Yes, he was very, very good. He scored twice, had another called back, and an assist nullified by offsides. But he was not the critical player of this match.

Oscar Ustari, the Inter Miami goalkeeper, deserves the game ball. If you doubt me, watch the final eight minutes of this game. Go ahead. I’ll wait.

First, there was that fingertip save of Bouanga’s header. Damn. Second, there was that 91st minute save of Bouanga’s shot of his one-on-one break. There will be many who claim Bouanga was too quick to shoot, but Ustari still needed to come out strong and block the kick.

Messi’s two goals may have won the game; Ustari’s eight saves ensured the win would stick.

In all honesty, this was one of the best MLS games played in a long while, and this wasn’t even a MLS match. Both teams were fully committed and left nothing on the pitch. LAFC looked like they took the foot off the gas after their early score gave them a 2 – 0 lead (plus an away goal), and Miami happily seized the momentum. So much happened, so I’m just going to bullet point some incredible moments:

Messi’s first “goal” which he took from a deadball when Hugo Lloris was setting his wall. The referee called it back.
Messi’s first goal that counted. How many times have we seen him dribble across the box, then pivot that left foot for a shot to the right corner?
Noah Allen’s looping cross that may or may not have been headed in by Federico Redondo for Miami’s second goal.
The incredibly soft (but correct by the Laws) penalty called on Marlon when the ball fell onto his outstretched arm.
The resulting PK, which pit Messi vs. Lloris in a repeat of the World Cup final shootout. Just like then, Messi won.
The totally unnecessary bicycle kick attempt by Luis Suarez. So dumb. But if it had worked….
The WWE match that resulted from a foul against Messi in the 89th minute. There were likely a number of yellow and red cards in the ensuing fracas, but logic prevailed and the referee just restarted the game, leaving any disciplinary action for later. And there should be some repercussions, as I saw a number of hits to the face and neck by players on both sides. More on that to come.

Tigres UANL 3 – 2 LA Galaxy

Tigres advance 3 – 2 on aggregate

The 2025 season continues to be a nightmare for LA Galaxy. Winless in the league, the Cup was one potential bright spot keeping the gloom of crushing despair at bay. Last night, even that dim flame was snuffed out.

Tigres were simply too good. In the first 50 seconds, forward Nicolás Ibáñez’s bicycle kick was on frame and was a warning shot across Galaxy’s bow that tonight would not be easy. Indeed, eight minutes later Ibáñez would score on a far less dramatic but more effective header from a cross. From the ensuing kickoff Pumas would drive forward, with Uriel Antuna taking a pass in the box, a single touch and a shot into the net. Tigres would gift the visitors in the 40th minute with a soft back pass. The Puma’s keeper slipped, allowing Joseph Paintsil to chase it down, calmly set himself up and finish. Center back Rômulo would put the hosts up two with a thumping header off the cross from Diego Lainez in the 58th minute. But the Galaxy’s Carlos Garcés would just beat the keeper to the ball with his sweeping foot a few moments later to cut the deficit to one.

Cruz Azul 2 – 1 América

Cruz Azul advance 2 – 1 on aggregate

These two clubs have more Champions Cup wins between them (7 and 6 respectfully). Tonight, Cruz Azul keep their hopes for a record-breaking eighth win alive.

Next round

We have an all-Liga MX semifinal with Cruz Azul taking on Tigers UANL, and a cross-border showdown between Vancouver Whitecaps and Inter Miami. The matches will have two legs and be played between the 22–24 April and 29 April – 1 May.