- Whitecaps FC set a new club record of 55 points in an MLS regular season, eclipsing the previous record of 53 set in 2015
- The 'Caps now turn their attention to a Wednesday home match against Portland Timbers at BC Place, with a chance to clinch a record eighth Cascadia Cup and move back into first place in the Western Conference
- Whitecaps FC have scored 15 straight goals without conceding across all competitions (11 in MLS play), and have not conceded a goal in 287 minutes
- With 13 goals scored through three matches, TELUS have now donated $32,500 to the Home Field Heroes program
- The 'Caps have won four matches in a row, and are on a six-match unbeaten streak across all competitions (4W-0L-2D)
- Whitecaps FC are now 14W-0L-2D in MLS play when scoring the first goal, and 11W-0L-2D when leading at halftime
- With the win, Whitecaps FC are in second place in the MLS Western Conference, only two points behind San Diego FC with two games in hand
- With the victory, the 'Caps tied their club record of 16 wins in an MLS season from 2015
- Whitecaps FC set a new club record of 56 goals scored in an MLS regular season, breaking the previous high from 2023. The 'Caps also set an MLS era record of 80 goals across all competitions, surpassing the 78 from 2023
- Peruvian U-22 Kenji Cabrera made his first start for Whitecaps FC, and scored his first goal
- Ali Ahmed recorded an assist for a third straight match across all competitions, bringing his season total to nine (1G, 9A)
- Colombian U-22 Édier Ocampo scored his third goal of the season across all competitions (3G, 3A)
- Emmanuel Sabbi recorded his fifth assist of the season across all competitions (8G, 5A)
- Yohei Takaoka tied David Ousted's club record from 2015 with his league-leading 13th MLS clean sheet of the season. As a team, the 'Caps have 16 clean sheets this season across all competitions (MLS 13, CCC 2, CC 1)
- J.C. Ngando made his 50th appearance for Whitecaps FC
- Édier Ocampo and Andrés Cubas will be suspended for Wednesday's match versus Portland Timbers due to yellow card accumulation
KANSAS CITY, KS – An energized Vancouver Whitecaps FC took only 75 seconds to find the net during an impressive 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City. The three points taken also set a new ’Caps club record for MLS-era points with 55.
Whitecaps FC head coach Jesper Sørensen made two changes from last Saturday's 7-0 win over Philadelphia, with Tate Johnson coming in for the injured Tristan Blackmon, moving Mathías Laborda to centre back. The other insertion paid a tidy dividend, with Peruvian Kenji Cabrera making his first start in place of Thomas Müller. The dangerous 22-year-old put in a terrific display in Kansas City, scoring once and linking up well with his teammates in a 65-minute performance.
Shortly after kickoff, the Blue and White found glory. Winger Emmanuel Sabbi showed his on-field intelligence as he gladly took full advantage of the space provided by the home side. After defender Édier Ocampo’s tidy header looped forward near the centre line, Sabbi sprinted to the edge of the Sporting Kansas City box, before he returned the favour to Ocampo. The mighty Colombian finished low under outstretched ’keeper John Pulskamp for the opener.
Before the quarter hour, Whitecaps FC almost added insurance when Daniel Ríos flashed a ball across goal for Cabrera, who was slightly off-balance as he cracked an effort off the woodwork.
After half-an-hour, the boys from Vancouver again came close with the same plan. Two yards from the goal line, Cabrera’s cross found Ocampo – his 20-yard smash swerved three feet wide.
The Ahmed-Cabrera team-up paid off in spades on their next rush. Off Ahmed’s short ball, Cabrera made jaws drop with deft moves past the back line. The Peruvian’s one-touch and dangle froze SKC defender Zorhan Bassong at the top of the box. Then, Cabrera followed up with a low strike that found the back of the net to make it 2-0.
After play restarted in the second half, Whitecaps FC continued their solid defensive play. Ahmed almost tacked on a third goal, as his boots were a second late to a loose ball that Pulskamp’s gloves reeled in.
From one ’keeper to another, Takaoka provided back-to-back glimpses of his All-Star brilliance. Right off the goal line, his full stretch pawed away SKC forward Erik Thommy’s 22-yard free kick.
Later, the ball was put back to SKC substitute Manu García – he curled in for the far post but Takaoka again roared ‘No’ with a skyward punch to preserve the clean sheet.
In the end, the 'Caps held firm to preserve their league-leading 13th clean sheet of the season.
Next up, Whitecaps FC return home for a chance to claim the 2025 Cascadia Cup versus Portland Timbers this coming Wednesday, September 24 at 7:30 p.m. PT.
Following that match, the 'Caps will next be at home on Wednesday, October 1 looking to lift the Voyageurs Cup for the fourth straight year in the 2025 TELUS Canadian Final. They will take on Canadian Premier League (CPL) side Vancouver FC in a first ever match between the two local clubs. For ticket information, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Tori Penso
Attendance: 15,026
Scoring Summary2’ – VAN – Édier Ocampo (Emmanuel Sabbi)
42’ – VAN – Kenji Cabrera (Ali Ahmed)
Cautions
10’ – VAN – Andrés Cubas
44’ – SKC – Zorhan Bassong
53’ – VAN – Édier Ocampo
56’ – VAN – Belal Halbouni
66’ – VAN – Daniel Ríos
82’ – SKC – Alán Montes
90’+6 – VAN – Sebastian Berhalter
Statistics
Possession: SKC 48% – VAN 52%
Shots: SKC 10 – VAN 12
Shots on Goal: SKC 1 – VAN 4
Saves: SKC 2 – VAN 1
Fouls: SKC 7 – VAN 16
Offsides: SKC 0 – VAN 1
Corners: SKC 8 – VAN 1
Sporting Kansas City1.John Pulskamp; 18.Logan Ndenbe, 23.Alán Montes (15.Jansen Miller 85’), 2.Ian James, 11.Khiry Shelton; 22.Zorhan Bassong (16.Jacob Bartlett 84’), 17.Jake Davis; 26.Erik Thommy, 7.Santiago Muñoz (21.Manu García 65’), 93.Magomed Suleymanov (13.Mason Toye 65’, 30.Stephen Afrifa 74’); 9.Dejan Joveljić
Substitutes not used
36.Ryan Schewe, 6.Nemanja Radoja, 8.Memo Rodríguez, 14.Tim Leibold
Vancouver Whitecaps FC1.Yohei Takaoka; 18.Édier Ocampo, 12.Belal Halbouni, 2.Mathías Laborda, 28.Tate Johnson (27.Giuseppe Bovalina 90’+2); 16.Sebastian Berhalter ©, 20.Andrés Cubas (59.Jeevan Badwal 82’); 11.Emmanuel Sabbi (26.J.C. Ngando 65’), 17.Kenji Cabrera (7.Jayden Nelson 65’), 22.Ali Ahmed (6.Ralph Priso 90’+2); 14.Daniel Ríos (75.Rayan Elloumi 81’)
Substitutes not used
32.Isaac Boehmer, 42.Nelson Pierre, 53.Mark O'Neill
