Emmanuel Sabbi, J.C. Ngando and Mathias Laborda scored goals to help the Vancouver Whitecaps register a 3-0 victory over visiting Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night.
Yohei Takaoka made three saves while extending his MLS-leading shutout count to 11 for the Whitecaps.
Vancouver (13-5-6, 45 points) is in second place in the Western Conference, one point behind leader San Diego FC.
The victory came in the first MLS match at home for Vancouver since June 25. The Whitecaps went 2-2-1 on their stretch of five straight MLS road matches.
Sporting Kansas City (6-12-6, 24 points) is winless in their past three matches (0-2-1).
John Pulskamp made two saves for Sporting KC.
Vancouver outshot Sporting Kansas City 22-11 and placed five shots on target to Sporting Kansas City’s three.
The Whitecaps took the lead in the 35th minute on the first shot on goal by either team.
Jayden Nelson passed the ball to Sabbi, who sent a right-footed shot into the right corner of the net.
Vancouver struck again eight minutes later on a rebound.
Sebastian Berhalter’s header was blocked by Sporting KC’s Joaquin Fernandez and caromed out to Ngando, who placed a right-footed shot into the right corner to make it 2-0.
The Whitecaps appeared to stretch the lead to three after Nelson made a stellar transition run in the 68th minute. Nelson delivered a pass to Edier Ocampo, who fed Brian White near the goal.
White kicked the ball into the net, but the tally was negated as White was declared to be offside.
Two minutes later, Sporting KC had two spirited opportunities.
Logan Ndenbe took a left-footed blast that Takaoka got his hands on and the ball went up and hit the crossbar. Santiago Munoz got the rebound, but his left-footed shot was blocked by Berhalter.
Vancouver got its third goal in the 87th minute as Berhalter sent a cross toward the net and Laborda leaped high to head it into the net.
–Field Level Media
