Sporting Kansas City can’t catch Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS loss north of border

Sporting Kansas City’s Major League Soccer winning streak was short-lived thanks to a 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps late Wednesday night at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada.

Sporting KC started slow, ceding most possession and chances to the hosts. The visitors struggled to handle the Whitecaps’ off-ball movement and weren’t quick enough to adjust on the fly.

“We had a style we wanted to play defensively; we just weren’t able to execute it,” Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia said. “They were able to kind of combine fairly easily and get behind us.”

It looked as though Vancouver would be the first to break through, and eventually that proved true. The Whitecaps took the lead in the 34th minute thanks to a Sporting KC own-goal. Robert Voloder put the ball into the back of his own net while trying to make a sliding intervention on Whitecaps attacker Brian White.

Sporting started the second half with much more. KC manager Peter Vermes brought on three substitutions: Khiry Shelton, Erik Thommy and Stephen Afrifa. He also switched formations from a 4-2-3-1 — with which KC opened the game, and which operated more like a 4-4-2 — back to a 4-3-3.

Vermes said Vancouver was playing a “diamond midfield” and still had midfielder Ryan Gauld underneath striker Brian White.

“With three, it was a lot easier … (KC midfielder Nemanja) Radoja played more like a six, and he was able to take care of Gauld, and then the two midfielders could take care of their two players,” Vermes said.

Thommy and Afrifa infused energy into Sporting KC’s attack after a sleepy first half. Afrifa hit the crossbar and Thommy tested Vancouver’s net with a powerful shot from a distance.

“There was just a better level of organization,” Vermes said, “which gave us more possession of the ball, which then allowed some of those guys to get in better spots and face up with their opponent.”

After 20-plus minutes of promising attacking play, Sporting KC finally leveled the score in the 69th minute thanks to two starters: Willy Agada and Daniel Salloi. Salloi cut inside and took a shot with the outside of his foot. Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka parried the ball back in front of the goal, only for Agada to blast it home for his eighth goal of the season.

But Kansas City’s lead lasted for just seven minutes. A simple cross from Sebastian Berhalter found the unmarked head of Fafa Picault at the back post to give the Whitecaps a 2-1 advantage in the 76th minute.

And the Canadian team did not look back after that.

“I think what happens is when we have the ball, and we’re open, we turn the ball over,” Melia said. “At that moment, we’re not allocated correctly within our defensive positioning.”

“It was definitely two different halves,” Vermes said. “The second half was much better. But (the result) is just maybe a little disappointing because I think we could’ve got out of here with a point.”

Sporting KC now turns its attention to a Saturday matchup with St. Louis City SC. The MLS rivalry match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Children’s Mercy Park.

“We would’ve liked to collect points here, but we didn’t,” Melia said. “But we get to be at home in front of our fans against our new rival (Saturday).

“It’s going to be an exciting game, and I think it’s one that everyone’s going to want to be out there on the field fighting for our fans and fighting for our lives in these moments.”

Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.

This story was originally published July 17, 2024 at 11:39 PM.