Concacaf Champions Cup Final: Angel Sepúlveda vs. Brian White | OneFootball

MIAMI – The 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup Final awaits Cruz Azul and Vancouver Whitecaps FC on June 1 in Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City, Mexico.

Both clubs have been led by their Golden Boot candidates. Cruz Azul features Mexican striker Ángel Sepúlveda, the leading scorer in the 2025 edition with seven goals. Vancouver Whitecaps FC has U.S. striker Brian White, the second-leading scorer with five goals.

Ahead of the final, we closely examine the two active leaders in the Top Scorer race.

Ángel Sepúlveda: Cruz Azul’s goal machine

Sepúlveda struck his first goal of the 2025 edition with a right-footed strike at the top of the box in the 38’ of Cruz Azul’s 2-nil first leg win at Real Hope FA. He opened the scoring again in the second leg, striking a header in the box in the 21’, and with his left foot in the 24’ off a corner kick, to kick off the eventual 5-nil victory and 7-nil win on aggregate.

The Mexican striker converted from the penalty spot in the 71' of the 4-1 second leg win against Seattle Sounders FC in the Round of 16. The spot kick made it a two-goal lead as Sepúlveda struck to the left side to beat Stefan Frei.

In the quarterfinals, Sepúlveda struck twice against crosstown rivals Club America. His first goal came in the 12' with a left-footed strike on a through ball, before delivering the series-winner in the 85' with a header from close range.

With the series on the line, Sepúlveda converted from the spot in the 82' of the second leg against Tigres UANL in the Semifinal. Sepúlveda struck with power to beat Nahuel Guzman, despite the Tigres goalkeeper getting a piece of the ball.

Heading into the final, the Mexican striker has scored three goals off his right foot, two with his left and two headers. Four of his goals came from open play, one off a set piece and two from the penalty spot.

Brian White: Whitecaps FC’s clutch star

White’s first goal of the campaign came in Round One, in the 46’ of the second leg against Deportivo Saprissa at BC Place. With a header at the edge of the six-yard box, meeting a pinpoint cross from Jayden Nelson, White tied the series on aggregate. He would collect his brace in stoppage time by pouncing on a rebound inside the penalty area to win the series 3-2 on aggregate.

The Whitecaps striker was lethal inside the penalty box once again in the 78’ of the club’s Round of 16 second leg encounter against CF Monterrey at Estadio Corona in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico. He struck a loose ball into the box to place the ‘Caps up 3-2 on aggregate and, despite an attempted comeback that included a Sergio Ramos penalty kick conversion, the Canadians would advance 3-3 on away goals.

In the quarterfinals, White’s name would not end up on the scoresheet, but he helped cause Nathan Silva’s own goal in the 71’ to break the deadlock in the 1-1 first leg draw against Pumas UNAM. White struck the ball in the box with his right foot on a corner kick chance that was pushed into the net by the Pumas defender.

A header in the box from White would send a record 53,837 at BC Place into cheers to open the scoring in the 24’ of the first leg of the Semifinals against Inter Miami CF. White would strike again in the 51’ of the return leg to restore a two-goal lead in the aggregate and spark the Whitecaps’ way into the Final.

In the current edition, White has registered two goals with his right foot, one with his left and two headers.