Ariel Rodriguez fired home a goal in the final seconds, lifting Saprissa to a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Thursday in San Jose, Costa Rica, in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup opening-round series.
The two-match, total-goals series will conclude on Feb. 27 in Vancouver. The winner will advance to oppose Mexico’s Monterrey in the round of 16 next month.
Last in second-half stoppage time, Saprissa’s Jefry Valverde received a pass in the right side of the penalty area and half-volleyed a shot that was accidentally blocked by Rodriguez. However, Rodriguez was able to control the rebound, turn and fire the ball into the net.
The goal completed a comeback by the hosts, who trailed after the Whitecaps’ Ryan Gauld scored in the 21st minute. On a counterattack, Ali Ahmed rolled the ball across the top of the 18-yard box to Gauld, who fired a right-footed shot in the bottom right corner.
Saprissa pulled level in the 51st minute when Mariano Torres blasted a 30-yard goal, the right-footed attempt sailing into the far side of the net.
–Field Level Media
