The Vancouver Whitecaps were monumental favourites heading into their match against Sporting Kansas City and did not disappoint, dispatching the home side with an effective 3-0 road win.
Thomas Müller opened the scoring from the penalty spot. Brian White and Rayan Elloumi grabbed the other goals.
Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sørensen called the match “a good win.”
“It was a good win because it was obvious going into the game, we had the feeling it was a game where we could maybe lose,” Sørensen said. “ We were up against a team that has not been doing that well. So, it was important that we came out strong.”
The Whitecaps had the majority of possession throughout the opening half of the match. Yet SKC did not look under pressure or like a team sitting at the bottom of the MLS table.
For their part, SKC was organized in defence, particularly through centre-back Moisés Mosquera, who was a recent return from injury.
“I thought we played a little bit too fast in the beginning,” the head coach said. “The game was a little bit up and down. But after around 20 minutes, we got a little bit more hold on the play.”
The Whitecaps continued their game, leaving Müller and Ryan Gauld to float into open positions behind White, while Bruno Caicedo used his speed and directness in 1v1s to antagonize Kansas City’s back line.
In the 38th minute, it paid off. Caicedo was brought down by Justin Reynolds inside the 18-yard box.
Müller stepped up for the penalty, his third this season. And like the others before, the German talisman converted, giving the Whitecaps the lone goal of the half.
“I think after the lead, I think we gained confidence and were not playing as stressed,” Sørensen said.
White had a great chance to double the lead just before the whistle, but he headed Caicedo’s cross into the outside of the post.
The return to play did not dampen the Whitecaps’ progression. In fact, the visitors got right back at it.
In the 48th minute, Oliver Larraz jumped on a rebound inside the 18-yard box. But rather than shoot, something he would have done a few matches ago, the midfielder picked out White in the 6-yard box.
The American striker, with his back to the net, back-heeled the ball between his legs, catching Stefan Cleveland unaware as the ball rolled in for the second of the night for the Whitecaps.
Gauld had a somewhat audacious chance in the 78th minute as he attempted an overhead kick. The initial shot from Müller was inadvertently blocked by Gauld, but the captain fought to possession, his kick going just wide of the post.
Elloumi came off the bench to score this third goal of the season (second in MLS). Müller picked out the young striker with a brilliant cross from the right to seal the Whitecaps’ victory just before stoppage time.
Takaoka: Clean sheet leader for Whitecaps
With tonight’s 3-0 win, Yohei Takaoka now has the most clean sheets of any Whitecaps goalkeeper in the MLS era with 46. David Ousted ended his time with the club with 45 clean sheets.
“Congratulations to Yohei,” Sørensen said. “It’s what he fights for every day to help the team…not let in any goals.”
Sørensen credited Takaoka’s ambition, composure and leadership as contributors to how effective he has been as a top MLS keeper.
Takaoka called it a “great achievement individually and also collectively.”
“I just want to say thank you to everyone who helped me from the first day. It’s for everyone.
Takaoka also singled out Whitecaps goalkeeper coach Youssef Dahha for transitioning his style of play to be more fitting for the club.
“[Youssef] gave me a new style of goalkeeper, and his [help] has been outstanding,” Takaoka said. “I feel very confident on the field, and it’s because of him.”
Up next
The Whitecaps are back to midweek matches as the semi-finals of the Canadian Championship get underway.
CF Montréal come to Vancouver for the first leg of their tie on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
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