Whitecaps Advance

Photo Credit Mark Steffens

Locally we saw the Whitecaps play  a solid 90+ minute match after they defeated the visiting.Honduran side Real C.D. España in the Round of 16/ 

Their next task will have them square off against Los Angeles FC in the 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals.

The first leg takes place between April 4-6, while the second leg goes from April 11-13 with the official dates, times, and venues all announced in the immediate future.

If you count the all-time record the ‘Caps have a 4W-4L-3D record against LAFC in MLS regular season play and last July the Caps managed a 1-0 win as Cubas got his first MLS goal.

Locally the village team, as they were once referred to, managed to advance to the quarterfinals after trouncing Real España by a combined aggregate score of 7-3 after a 5 nil win 

This was followed in San Pedro that they dropped the match by a 3-2 margin they had a combined aggregate score of 7-3. 

LAFC managed to get a combined aggregate score of 4-2 over L.D. Alajuelense won the first leg in Costa Rica 3-0 and falling 2-1 at BMO Stadium.

The winner will advance and face either the 2022 MLS Cup runners-up Philadelphia Union or LIGA MX side Atlas FC in the semifinals.

Mark the date on your calendar as the Whitecaps play host to visiting Los Angeles FC in what will be the first leg of the 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday, April 5th  with the kickoff at 7 pm.

The second leg will be April 11 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles at 7:15 pm with the winner to face either 2022 MLS Cup runners-up Philadelphia Union or LIGA MX side Atlas FC in the semifinals.

ALL-TIME

If you look at the all-time stats  the ‘Caps have a 4W-4L-3D record against LAFC in regular season, but at home they are 4W-1L-0D. 

This includes a win in Portland (2020) and at home they are 3W-1L-0D with the single loss in 2018 which was the first meeting.

Their most recent match was last July that saw the ‘Caps manage a 1-0 victory thanks to Andrés Cubas’ first MLS goal.

Past Local Connection

Maxime Crepeau played three seasons with the ‘Caps having 61 starts in all competitions. while LAFC Assistant Coach Marc Dos Santos was also with Whitecaps FC as head coach during from 2019 to 2021.

Whitecaps FC defender Tristan Blackmon spent the first four years of his professional career with LAFC, making 79 appearances across all competitions. That included starting the 2020 Concacaf Champions League final for the club against UANL Tigres.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The Concacaf Champions League is a 16-team, knockout competition to crown the best club in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, similar to the UEFA Champions League in Europe or the Copa Libertadores in South America.

The winner of the tournament qualifies for the FIFA Club World Cup, where they’ll face the top teams from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and South America.

FIFA announced that they are going to expand 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in 2025 that will see the Concacaf Champions League winners from 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 all qualifying for the event.