Sporting KC take decisive 3-0 victory over Whitecaps

On Saturday night, Sporting Kansas City scored goals from Remi Walter, Alan Pulido and Eric Tommy to seal a much-anticipated 3-0 blowout victory over the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps.

Sporting KC (6-10-6, 24 points) ended their three-game winless streak to within a point of the redline of the Western Conference standings.

The Whitecaps (6 wins, 6 losses, 7 draws, 25 points) ended their four-game unbeaten streak. They haven’t been shut out in their last nine games.

Sporting took the lead in the 53rd minute.

Tommy, already leading 2-0 at the break, picked up a loose ball in the box to give the home side a 3-0 lead. Daniel Saroy’s close-range shot left Vancouver keeper Yohei Takaoka’s hand and Tommy put it on goal.

The goal seemed to suck the life out of Vancouver, but they only had two shots in the second half.

Sporting keeper Kendall McIntosh was injured in the eighth minute when he rushed into Sergio Córdova, who was trying to separate the two defenders, and was inadvertently kicked in the head. Andreu Fontas managed to deflect the ball away from goal, but Cordoba’s foot caught McIntosh.

With a bandaged headband, McIntosh remained in the game for his first clean sheet of the season.

After an uneventful first 30 minutes, Sporting came on in the 33rd minute with a goal from Walter.

They slowly build up their play from the back and Tim Leebold receives a cross pass on the left. He sent it to Gadi Kinda, who teamed up with Saroj to trick Ryan Raposo just across midfield. Guinda pushed his way through the defense, spotted Walter charging in, chipped past Takaoka and scored.

After the goal, Sporting stepped up the pressure.

Pulido, who was named MLS Player of the Month for June, led SKC 2-0 with two minutes of stoppage time in the first half. After another strong build-up, Leybold delivered the ball across goal to Pulido, who was waiting on the right.

Sporting dominated Vancouver 9-7 in the first half, with all three shots on goal.

–Field level media

(Photo credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports)