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Posted by
Harjeet Johal,
October 1, 2017 |
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@HarJournalist
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VANCOUVER, B.C - Vancouver Whitecaps FC made history on Saturday night against Sporting Kansas City. Vancouver had never won in Kansas City, but they prevailed with a 1-0 win, and securing a coveted MLS playoff spot. Carl Robinson's squad was under pressure for much of the match, but they got the job done, in front of 19,990 supporters at Children's Mercy Park.
Erik Hurtado scored his third goal of the season, and Stefan Marinovic was brilliant in net with 7 saves. The New Zealand international picked up his first MLS clean-sheet.
"I don't think he was solid, I thought he was brilliant," said Robinson.
Vancouver hold on to first place in the MLS western conference with 51 points from a 15-10-6 record. Sporting Kansas City fail to close the gap on Whitecaps FC. Manager, Peter Vermes sees his club drop to 12-7-11 record, with 47 points.
"That was the first time we had won here in seven years," said Robinson. "We had not won in MLS play since we came into the League. As I said to the guys before the game, you know it’s going to be tough. It’s going to be a battle. You know what Kansas City is like, they are a great team. Peter (Vermes) has them super organized and we have got to match that. We knew we would come under the cosh a little bit and we did in the first 20 minutes. It was one way traffic and we made some adjustments. Credit to the players in there because they took it onboard and the game plan worked."
The Opening 45
Sporting Kansas City came to play, and they pushed the pace early looking to set the tone, and jump out to an early advantage vs Whitecaps FC.
A tackle on Daniel Salloi, from Vancouver skipper, Kendall Waston resulted in a penalty for the home-side. Waston's tackle inside the Vancouver box gave Sporting Kansas City a chance to score. Diego Rubio stepped up, and fired his attempt off the far post.
Moments later, Sporting Kansas City was buzzing with another dangerous scoring opportunity. Graham Zusi broke down the flank, and delivered a terrific cross. The 24 year-old Rubio pounced on the ball, only to have Marinovic come across with a brilliant diving save to keep Sporting Kansas City off the score-sheet.
Whitecaps FC were lucky to get to the interval without conceding a goal, or two. At times, Sporting Kansas City held an 81% possession advantage. They closed the first half with a closer 76% - 24% advantage, but they had nothing to show for it, in the final third.
The Second Half
The massive margin of possession for Sporting Kansas City should have resulted in a better half for the home-side. They created a bevy of chances, and simply could not find the back of the net. Sporting continued this trend in the second half.
Vancouver was sloppy, and had trouble retaining the ball off a dominate Sporting Kansas City. Nevertheless, it was Whitecaps FC who managed to score the opening goal of the match. Against the run of play, it was Sporting Kansas City completely caught by surprise.
Jordan Harvey played a beautiful ball over the top, and Hurtado took the ball one time, and flicked the ball over keeper, Tim Melia.
Whitecaps FC were able to turn the tables on Sporting Kansas City, and they got them in transition to make it 1-0, in the 53' minute.
"I heard earlier today that we haven’t won in Kansas City in MLS play so the team took that challenge on and we can cross that off the bucket list," Hurtado said.
Frustrations grew for Sporting Kansas City as they could not solve Whitecaps FC, and Kiwi keeper, Stefan Marinovic. Vancouver was instrumental in slowing the match down, and taking every last second on throw-ins, corners, and substitutions.
The water boiled over in stoppage time, and players from both teams were issued red card. Zusi tripped up Yordy Reyna when he was sent in 1v1 with Melia. Christian Bolanos appeared to get his arm up high on Feilhaber, and he was given his marching orders.
It wasn't the prettiest match for Vancouver, but they will take it. It doesn't matter how you pick up a win, but that you do. Sporting Kansas City dominated the match in terms of possession, but Vancouver scored the lone goal, to take all three points on the road.
Man of the Match
Erik Hurtado has often worn the brunt of criticism from Whitecaps FC supporters, but he came up clutch when the team needed him. Hurtado took his chance in the second half, and made sure he finished on goal. Hurtado has grown as a footballer, and shown that he has a lot to contribute when called upon.
"Listen, he's a phenomenal kid, we know that," said Carl Robinson. "He's an ideal professional, he doesn't complain. He comes up big with a wonderful finish."
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Starting XI: David Ousted; Jordan Harvey, Tim Parker, Kendall Waston(C), Jake Nerwinski; Marcel de Jong, Aly Ghazal; Brek Shea, 60 (Christian Bolanos), Nicolas Mezquida, 68 (Yordy Reyna), Alphonso Davies, 84 (Russell Teibert); Fredy Montero. 4-2-3-1
Sporting Kansas City Starting XI: Tim Melia; Seth Sinovic, Erik Palmer-Brown, Ike Opara, Graham Zusi; Jimmy Medranda, 57 (Benny Feilhaber), Ilie Sanchez, Roger Espinoza(C); Daniel Salloi, Diego Rubio, 79 (Latif Blessing), Gerso Fernandes, 45 (Cristian Labato). 4-3-3
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