15-year-old Alphonso Davies scores in stoppage time, Whitecaps advance

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Vancouver Whitecaps clinched a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-finals after defeating Sporting Kansas City 2-1 on Tuesday.

Alphonso Davies pushed the Whitecaps through when he broke a 1-1 tie in the 93rd minute with a left-foot blast past Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia from the top of the box.

Erik Hurtado opened the scoring for Vancouver in the 41st minute, but Diego Rubio responded for Sporting KC in the 55th to draw the match even.

It was a long night at Children’s Mercy Park after lightning halted play in the 35th minute for nearly two hours.

The 15-year-old Davies is the youngest active player on a Major League Soccer roster after signing with Vancouver in July.

Davies, who was born in Liberia and raised in Edmonton, was the first Whitecaps FC 2 player to sign with the first team.

The Whitecaps have struggled in MLS this season, but are 3-0-0 in Champions League play and have made it to the knockout round for the first time in team history.

Vancouver still has one more Champions League group game remaining on Sept. 28 at BC Place Stadium against Central FC that could play a factor into quarter-final seeding.

The CCL quarter-finals will take place next year from Feb. 21 to March 2.