Substitutes key as surging Vancouver Whitecaps bag a win at home

Yohei Takaoka made 16 saves for Vancouver and Tim Melia stopped a dozen on-target photographs for Kansas Metropolis

Revealed Jul 17, 2024  •  Final up to date 2 days in the past  •  3 minute learn

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Vancouver Whitecaps’ Andres Cubas, left, and Sporting Kansas Metropolis’s Alan Pulido vie for the ball throughout the first half of an MLS soccer match, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Photograph by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Fafa Picault got here off the bench to attain within the second half and the Vancouver Whitecaps dispatched Sporting Kansas Metropolis 2-1 on Wednesday.

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The ’Caps (11-7-5) managed play throughout a lot of the primary half, however noticed two targets erased for offside calls.

Vancouver settled for an personal aim by Kansas Metropolis defender Robert Valoder within the thirty fourth minute.

Sporting (6-14-5) seemed extra full of life to start out the second half and bought a tally from Willy Agada within the 69th minute.

Picault responded for the Whitecaps within the 76th, extending the membership’s unbeaten streak in Main League Soccer play to 5 video games (4-0-1).

Yohei Takaoka made 16 saves for Vancouver and Tim Melia stopped a dozen on-target photographs for a Kansas Metropolis aspect that noticed its three-game win streak snapped.

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

Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White (24) and Alessandro Schopf (8) have fun White’s aim towards Sporting Kansas Metropolis goalkeeper Tim Melia (29) throughout the first half of an MLS soccer match, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Photograph by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Brian White almost scored first with a header from the highest of the six-yard field within the seventh minute, solely to see the shot headed out by Valoder from the aim line.

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The Whitecaps discovered the again of the online within the twenty seventh minute after Ali Ahmed beat Valoder, danced round Kayden Pierre, then sliced a ball to White within the penalty space.

The American striker put a shot in previous Melia, however the offside flag rapidly sprang up on the sideline.

White joined up with ’Caps all-star Ryan White for a powerful give-and-go play within the thirty fourth minute.

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

Valoder bought his foot on the ball, nevertheless, sending it in for an personal aim that put Vancouver up 1-0.

Ahmed seemed poised to spice up the lead eight minutes later when he blasted a shot in previous Melia, however the offside flag went up as soon as once more.

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The ’Caps outshot the guests 9-2 throughout the primary half.

Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White reacts to his aim being referred to as again after he was offside on the play throughout the first half of an MLS soccer match towards Sporting Kansas Metropolis, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Photograph by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

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

Stefan Afrifa — who got here off the bench for Alenis Vargas — fired a shot off the crossbar within the 63rd minute.

The rebound landed on the foot of Daniel Salloi, whose shot sailed towards Vancouver’s internet when Takaoka leapt up and tipped the ball out of hurt’s approach.

Kansas Metropolis made their possibilities rely six minutes later. Takaoka dove to disclaim Salloi and the ball bounced out to an unmarked Agada, who slotted a shot into the yawning internet to degree the sport at 1-1.

A pair of Vancouver substitutes then mixed to recapture the lead within the 76th minute.

Sebastian Berhalter — who got here on for Ryan Raposo within the 67th minute — chipped a cross to Picault within the penalty space and the Haitian attacker headed a shot in to make it 2-1 for the ’Caps.

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It was Picault’s sixth aim of the yr throughout all competitions. He changed Ahmed on the pitch within the 67th minute.

Kansas Metropolis missed a main alternative in harm time when Vancouver’s Mathias Laborda was referred to as for a foul on Salloi on the high of the penalty space. Erik Thommy despatched a free kick hovering effectively over the ’Caps internet.

Vancouver Whitecaps’ Bjorn Inge Utvik, entrance, and Sporting Kansas Metropolis’s William Agada vie for the ball throughout the first half of an MLS soccer match, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Photograph by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

NOTES: The Whitecaps swept the season sequence between the 2 golf equipment. They took a 2-1 street victory from SKC again on Might 29. … Kansas Metropolis’s star winger Johnny Russell made the journey to Vancouver however didn’t gown for the sport. … An introduced crowd of 23,198 took within the match.

UP NEXT: The Whitecaps entertain the Houston Dynamo at B.C. Place on Saturday. Sporting hosts St. Louis Metropolis the identical night time.

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