VANCOUVER — Emmanuel Sabbi scored and notched an assist as the Vancouver Whitecaps blanked visiting Sporting Kansas City 3-0 on Friday.
The result marked Vancouver’s third straight victory and kept the ‘Caps atop the MLS standings with a 7-1-0 record.
Sabbi opened the scoring in the 13th minute with his second goal of the season then provided a helper on Thomas Muller’s 28th-minute tally.
Bruno Caidcedo also scored for Vancouver, registering his first goal for the Whitecaps in the 23rd minute.
Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka made one save to register his fifth clean sheet of the season. John Pulskamp registered two stops for Kansas City (1-6-1).
The ‘Caps controlled play through much of the game, maintaining 50.7 per cent possession and outshooting SKC 25-3, with a 6-1 edge in on-target shots.
Sporting has now lost four MLS games in a row, with its lone victory of the season being a 2-1 decision over the L.A. Galaxy on March 14.
The ‘Caps took an early lead off a scramble in the SKC six-yard box.
Striker Brian White was tripped up as he went for a shot in the penalty area and his teammate Mathias Laborda was similarly chopped down as he went after the loose ball. Sabbi then got to it and sent a right-footed shot in to put Vancouver up 1-0 in the 13th minute.
Caidcedo doubled the lead 10 minutes later, driving in and chipping a shot through two defenders. The ball pinged off the post and in for his first MLS goal.
Vancouver acquired the 21-year-old Ecuadorian forward in a transfer from Barcelona SC in January.
A big play from Sabbi helped the home side to a 3-0 cushion.
The American midfielder dove near the corner flag to scoop the ball off the line and keep it in play, then crossed it in to Muller. The German soccer legend headed it in past Pulskamp in the 28th minute for his fourth goal of the season.
Muller now has 13 goals and five assist across his first 25 games with the Whitecaps.
Vancouver was dominant across both ends of the field in the first half, maintaining 53 per cent possession and outshooting Kansas City 16-0, with four on-target shots.
Sebastian Berhalter came close to boosting the home team’s tally in the 47th minute. The American midfielder stepped up for a free kick near the top-right corner of the penalty area and sent the ball soaring over SKC’s wall, into Pulskamp’s chest.
Kansas City’s first shot of the game came in the 65th minute when substitute Ian James fired the ball from the top of the six-yard box, only to see Vancouver defender Tristan Blackmon slide in for a block.
The visitors had a prime opportunity in injury time when Manu Garcia won a free kick following a foul by Laborda. He stepped up to take the set play and sent a shot into Takaoka’s hands. The ‘keeper dove to the turf to hold onto the ball.
NOTES
Sabbi went down in the 79th minute and was looked at by trainers before he walked off the field. He was replaced by Cheikh Sabaly in the 82nd minute. … Right back Nikola Djordjevic came on for Edier Ocampo in the 82nd minute, making his ‘Caps debut. … Vancouver leads the MLS in goals with 22 on the season. … An announced crowd of 21, 777 took in the game at B.C. Place.
UP NEXT
Whitecaps: Wrap a five-game homestand April 25 against the Colorado Rapids.
SKC: Visit the Chicago Fire on April 25.
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