Sporting Kansas City lost 3-0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place on April 18. The match marked Sporting’s eighth game of the Major League Soccer regular season.
The result follows Sporting’s elimination from the U.S. Open Cup earlier in the week. Head coach Raphael Wicky made five changes to his lineup, including giving a debut to Homegrown midfielder Cielo Tschantret and a first professional start to Kwaku Agyabeng, a recent SuperDraft pick.
Vancouver took control early, scoring in the 13th minute when Emmanuel Sabbi finished from close range after an initial effort was blocked. Bruno Caicedo doubled Vancouver’s lead ten minutes later with a shot that went in off the post. In the 28th minute, Sabbi assisted Thomas Muller for Vancouver’s third goal with a cross headed home at the far post.
Sporting had chances but could not convert, including an effort by substitute Ian James in the second half that was blocked by Tristan Blackmon. Vancouver also hit Sporting’s crossbar twice during the match.
The announced attendance at BC Place was 21,777 under cloudy skies and temperatures of 52 degrees. Sporting Kansas City will finish its three-game road stretch next weekend against Chicago Fire at Soldier Field on Saturday, April 25.
