- Whitecaps FC (45pts) remain one point back of San Diego FC (46pts) for first place in the Western Conference, with a game in hand
- Whitecaps FC are now 12W-0L-1D in MLS play when scoring the first goal, and 9W-0L-1D when leading at halftime
- With their 13th MLS win of the season, the 'Caps equaled their win total from 2024. The team record for MLS wins in a season is 16, set in 2015
- Emmanuel Sabbi scored his sixth goal of the season in all competitions, and recorded his 10th goal contribution (6G, 4A)
- Jayden Nelson is now tied for the team lead with his eighth assist of the season in all competitions, and 10th goal contribution (2G, 8A)
- J.C. Ngando scored his first career goal at BC Place, and his second of the season, and added his sixth assist of the season in all competitions (2G, 6A)
- MathÃas Laborda scored his third goal of the season, and recorded his fourth goal contribution (3G, 1A)
- MLS All-Star Sebastian Berhalter recorded his seventh assist of the season in all competitions, and 12th goal contribution (5G, 7A)
- Whitecaps FC BMO Academy graduate Jeevan Badwal recorded his second assist of the season (1G, 2A)
- MLS All-Star Yohei Takaoka recorded his league-leading 11th MLS clean sheet of the season, and 13th in all competitions
VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC put on another clinic on Saturday, as they swept past Sporting Kansas City 3-0 to stay within touching distance of first in the Western Conference.
Whitecaps FC started the match with plenty of energy, with Jayden Nelson getting involved early on with some dangerous runs and crosses.
J.C. Ngando nearly opened the scoring in the seventh minute after Nelson cut it back for the Frenchman, but his drilled shot skewed juts wide.
Brian White had a chance in the 16th minute, after Tristan Blackmon headed it back for him near the penalty spot, but his outstretched volley was just slightly off balance, pushing his shot over the mark.
After poking and probing at SKC’s defence, the ‘Caps broke the deadlock in the 35th minute through Emmanuel Sabbi. Ngando played it in behind for Nelson, who cut it back with a great pass for Sabbi to slide and tap-in for the opener.
Shortly after, Nelson almost got a quick-fire second, running into the box and blasting a left-footed shot, but it just flew over the bar.
The ‘Caps did end up getting their second not long after, as Ngando picked up on a loose ball inside SKC’s box and placed his shot to double the lead.
Whitecaps FC almost began the second half with a bang, after Nelson’s curled effort was just tipped wide by SKC ‘keeper John Pulskamp.
White thought that he sealed the win for Whitecaps FC in the 68th minute, after Édier Ocampo squared it to him for a tap-in, but the goal was called back for offside.
Yohei Takaoka then came up massively minutes later, saving a point-blank shot from Logan Ndenbe, putting his body on the line to deny a great opportunity.
Nelson kept looking for his goal, and almost got it in the 85th minute after he latched onto a cut-back in the box, but his first time volley went just over the bar.
In the end, it was MathÃas Laborda who got the killer third goal, off a corner. A short corner from Berhalter saw Jeevan Badwal play a one-two with him before he crossed a terrific ball towards the back post where Laborda rose highest and angled his header down and into the back of the net.
Daniel RÃos nearly got a fourth after he was played into the box from the right by Nelson, but his shot was well-saved by Pulskamp.
In the end, the 'Caps finished off a comfortable win as they stay within one point of first place in the conference after a massive result at home.
Whitecaps FC are back in action on Saturday, August 9 as they travel to California to face San Jose Earthquakes. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT.
The ‘Caps then travel to Hamilton, Ontario to face Forge FC in the semifinals of the TELUS Canadian Championship on Wednesday, August 13. Kickoff for that one is at 4 p.m. PT.
Finally, Whitecaps FC come back home to BC Place to host Houston Dynamo FC on Sunday, August 17 at 6 p.m. PT. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
Attendance: 20,719
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
Scoring Summary
35’ – VAN – Emmanuel Sabbi (Jayden Nelson, J.C. Ngando)
43’ – VAN – J.C. Ngando
87’ – VAN – MathÃas Laborda (Sebastian Berhalter, Jeevan Badwal)
Statistics
Possession: VAN 54.4% - SKC 45.6%
Shots: VAN 21 – SKC 11
Shots on Goal: VAN 5 – SKC 3
Saves: VAN 3 – SKC 2
Fouls: VAN 17 – SKC 12
Offsides: VAN 5 – SKC 0
Corners: VAN 9 – SKC 4
Cautions
3’ – VAN – Emmanuel Sabbi
27’ – SKC – Dejan Joveljić
52’ – SKC – Tim Leibold
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Yohei Takaoka; 18.Édier Ocampo (28.Tate Johnson 74’), 33.Tristan Blackmon (12.Belal Halbouni 88’), 15.Bjørn Inge Utvik, 2.MathÃas Laborda; 16.Sebastian Berhalter, 20.Andrés Cubas (13.Ralph Priso HT), 26.J.C. Ngando (59.Jeevan Badwal 81’); 11.Emmanuel Sabbi (14.Daniel RÃos 74’), 24.Brian White, 7.Jayden Nelson
Substitutes not used
30.AdrÃan Zendejas, 32.Isaac Boehmer, 27.Giuseppe Bovalina, 42.Nelson Pierre
Sporting Kansas City
1.John Pulskamp; 3.Andrew Brody, 15.Jansen Miller, 24.JoaquÃn Fernández, 14.Tim Leibold (18.Logan Ndenbe 60’); 16.Jacob Bartlett (17.Jacob Davis 60’), 22.Zorhan Bassong (8.Memo Rodriguez 85’), 6.Nemanja Radoja; 93.Shapi Suleymanov (13.Mason Toye 85’), 9.Dejan Joveljić, 10.Daniel Sallói (7.Santiago Muñóz 60’)
Substitutes not used
36.Ryan Schewe, 2.Ian James, 4.Robert Voloder, 30.Stephen Afrifa