Substitutes key as surging Vancouver Whitecaps top Sporting Kansas City 2-1

Picault responded for the Whitecaps in the 76th, extending the club’s unbeaten streak in Major League Soccer play to five games (4-0-1).

Yohei Takaoka made 16 saves for Vancouver and Tim Melia stopped a dozen on-target shots for a Kansas City side that saw its three-game win streak snapped.

Vancouver was dominant to start the match and produced a flurry of early opportunities.

Brian White nearly scored first with a header from the top of the six-yard box in the seventh minute, only to see the shot headed out by Valoder from the goal line.

The Whitecaps found the back of the net in the 27th minute after Ali Ahmed beat Valoder, danced around Kayden Pierre, then sliced a ball to White in the penalty area.

The American striker put a shot in past Melia, but the offside flag quickly sprang up on the sideline.

White joined up with ‘Caps all-star Ryan White for an impressive give-and-go play in the 34th minute.

White dished off to the Scottish attacking midfielder and Gauld wasted no time of sending it back as his teammate crashed the net.

Valoder got his foot on the ball, however, sending it in for an own goal that put Vancouver up 1-0.

Ahmed looked poised to boost the lead eight minutes later when he blasted a shot in past Melia, but the offside flag went up once again.

The ‘Caps outshot the visitors 9-2 across the first half.

Sporting made a trio of substitutions out of the locker room and the changes injected life into the listless squad.

Stefan Afrifa — who came off the bench for Alenis Vargas — fired a shot off the crossbar in the 63rd minute.

The rebound landed on the foot of Daniel Salloi, whose shot sailed toward Vancouver’s net when Takaoka leapt up and tipped the ball out of harm’s way.

Kansas City made their chances count six minutes later. Takaoka dove to deny Salloi and the ball bounced out to an unmarked Agada, who slotted a shot into the yawning net to level the game at 1-1.

A pair of Vancouver substitutes combined to recapture the lead in the 76th minute.

Sebastian Berhalter — who came on for Ryan Raposo in the 67th minute — chipped a cross to Picault in the penalty area and the Haitian attacker headed a shot in to make it 2-1 for the ‘Caps.

It was Picault’s sixth goal of the year across all competitions. He replaced Ahmed on the pitch in the 67th minute.

Kansas City missed a prime opportunity in injury time when Vancouver’s Mathias Laborda was called for a foul on Salloi at the top of the penalty area. Erik Thommy sent a free kick soaring well over the ‘Caps net.

NOTES: The Whitecaps swept the season series between the two clubs. They took a 2-1 road victory from SKC back on May 29. … Kansas City’s star winger Johnny Russell made the trip to Vancouver but did not dress for the game. … An announced crowd of 23,198 took in the match.

UP NEXT: The Whitecaps entertain the Houston Dynamo at BC Place on Saturday. Sporting hosts St. Louis City the same night.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2024.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Substitutes key as surging Vancouver Whitecaps top Sporting Kansas City 2-1

Pro Tips