Fafa Picault scored a go-ahead goal late in the second half as the Vancouver Whitecaps edged visiting Sporting Kansas City 2-1 on Wednesday night. With the victory, the Whitecaps (11-7-5, 38 points) stretched their unbeaten streak to five matches (4-0-1). A Robert Voloder own goal got Vancouver on the board in the first half. Willy Agada scored for Kansas City (6-14-5, 23 points), which saw its winning streak end at two matches. Vancouver took a 2-1 lead in the 76th minute, as Picault headed in a Sebastian Berhalter cross for his third goal in his past five MLS matches. Sporting Kansas City leveled the match at 1-1 in the 69th minute when Agada put in the rebound of Daniel Salloi's strike past Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka for his team-leading eighth goal of the season. SKC had two excellent opportunities to tie it at 1-1 in the 63rd minute. Stephen Afrifa put his strike off the bar and the rebound then came to Salloi, whose right-footed boot from the middle of the box was deflected over the goal by Takaoka. Vancouver controlled possession in the first half and led 1-0 after 45-plus minutes of play. The Whitecaps opened the scoring in the 34th minute on the Kansas City own goal. Ryan Gauld's cross, intended for Brian White, deflected off Sporting Kanas City defender Voloder and went into the net. Vancouver also had two first-half goals negated by offside calls. In the 43rd minute, Ali Ahmed thought he had given the home side a 2-0 lead, but Gauld was ruled offside. White appeared to open the scoring in the 27th minute but was caught offside on the play. Kansas City's best chance of the first half came in the 12th minute on Robert Castellanos' header from the area, but Takaoka was in position to make the save. Wednesday was the second and final regular-season meeting between the clubs. Vancouver won both matches against SKC this year. --Field Level Media
Jul 17, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Ryan Gauld (25) and Sporting Kansas City midfielder Remi Walter (54) battle for the ball during the first half at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-USA TODAY Sports