Ariel Rodríguez seals Saprissa’s comeback against Vancouver | OneFootball

SAN JUAN DE TIBÁS, Costa Rica – Deportivo Saprissa earned a 2-1 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the first leg of their Round One series as the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup continued Thursday at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San Juan de Tibás, Costa Rica.

Ryan Gauld opened the scoring in the 21' with a right-footed finish at the top of the box to meet a service from Ali Ahmed. Gauld (1 goal, 2 assists) has been directly involved in three of the last seven goals Vancouver Whitecaps has scored in the Concacaf Champions Cup (excluding own goals).

Mariano Torres equalized in the 52' with a left-footed rocket from midfield. All five of Torres’ goals in the Concacaf Champions Cup since 2016-17 have been scored with his left foot.

Deportivo Saprissa’s last three goals from outside the box in the CCC (excluding own goals) have been scored by Mariano Torres (March 2018 against América, February 2024 against Philadelphia, Thursday against Vancouver).

Ariel Rodríguez completed the comeback effort in the 90'+5, with a right-footed hit inside the six-yard box to take the full three points for the home side.

Rodríguez has scored three goals in the CCC since 2016-17. All three goals were scored at home, with two coming against Canadian opposition (CF Montréal in 2020).

Deportivo Saprissa has avoided defeat in nine of their last 12 home matches in the Concacaf Champions Cup (6-3-3) dating back to the beginning of the 2015-16 edition of the tournament.

The Whitecaps had 56% possession against Saprissa, the first time they've out possessed an opponent in the tournament since their 2023 debut against Real España (54%). In between, they went winless in five matches (D1, L4).

The second leg of this series will be played next Thursday at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with the winner on aggregate advancing to the Round of 16.