Vancouver Whitecaps FC handed Sporting Kansas City a 2-0 loss in the MLS on Wednesday night at Children’s Mercy Park, leaving SKC struggling to keep up with their rivals. Despite this setback, SKC has managed to win their first two matches in the U.S. Open Cup and is now in the quarterfinals.
The turning point of the game came in the 39th minute when Ryan Gauld scored for Vancouver off a corner kick. SKC center-back Dany Rosero had initially blocked Gauld’s shot but was unable to prevent him from scoring again. Due to injuries to key midfielders and yellow card accumulation, head coach Peter Vermes made eight changes to the lineup, including giving starts to players like Stephen Afrifa, Willy Agada, and Alenis Vargas.
Despite these efforts, SKC struggled to create scoring opportunities throughout the match. Vancouver’s Gauld secured a brace in the 83rd minute, taking advantage of a mistake by SKC in their own half. However, Khiry Shelton and Marinos Tzionis managed to score a goal for SKC in stoppage time, giving them hope for a comeback. Unfortunately for SKC fans, their team fell short of an improbable victory as they left Children’s Mercy Park with disappointment etched on their faces.
SKC currently sits last place in the Western Conference with a record of 2-8-5. The team will be looking for redemption when they face Minnesota on Saturday. The fan base was met with disappointment as they left Children’s Mercy Park, highlighting how challenging it is been for this team this season in MLS competition.
Overall, this loss was tough blow for Sporting KC as it extended their winless streak in MLS play to nine games. However, despite this setback, they have still won their first two matches in the U.S Open Cup and are currently still fighting for a place in the quarterfinals of that tournament.
