With major Western Conference playoff implications on the line at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night, the Vancouver Whitecaps earned a massive 1-0 road victory over Sporting Kansas City, of whom they now have a four-point advantage over in the race for Western Conference supremacy.
Sporting dominated the first half, nearly grabbing the lead on numerous occasions. Diego Rubio was particularly active with five first half shots including a penalty attempt that hit the post and clanged out of the goal for a miss.
However it was the Whitecaps who struck first, securing a second half goal compliments of a beautiful volley from Erik Hurtado that will certainly be in the conversation for AT&T MLS Goal of the Week.
Goals
- 53' – VAN – Erik Hurtado Watch
Three Things
- REAL ESTATE IN KC?: The Vancouver Whitecaps did something no team had done to SKC so far this season on Saturday evening: beat them at Children’s Mercy Park. Perhaps even more impressive is that the last team to best Sporting in Kansas City is the same team that beat them tonight, the ‘Caps. With the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs fast approaching, the Whitecaps sent a clear message should they face Peter Vermes and company again in the near future
- CHANCES GALORE: Sporting Kansas City looked sure to score during the first 45 minutes, a stanza in which they managed to out-possess the visitors 76%-24% and pester the Whitecaps backs with a barrage of chances. Graham Zusi looked particularly calibrated, connecting beautifully on three early cross attempts from the right flank. Luck was not in their corner, though, as the home team somehow never managed to score.
- HURTADO HERO: What to be said about Erik Hurtado’s third goal of the 2017 MLS Season? Beautifully skillful, indeed. Hurtado calmly tracked a floated long ball from teammate Jordan Harvey and lobbed home what would hold up as the game-winning tally for a Vancouver team who did a phenomenal job of obtaining three points against a savvy home team like Sporting Kansas City
Next Up
SKC: Saturday, October 7 at Minnesota United FC (8 pm ET | MLS LIVE)
VAN: Saturday, October 7 at New York Red Bulls (5 pm ET | TSN in Canada, MLS LIVE in US)
