Sporting Kansas City punched their ticket to the Western Conference semi-finals with a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.
First-half strikes from Khiry Shelton and Nicolas Isimat-Mirin both facet of a Cristian Dajome penalty gave SKC the benefit, putting the degree for veteran right-lower back Graham Zusi to seal the deal in style after the smash.
A far greater active healthy than the Eastern Conference clash among the Philadelphia Union and New York Red Bulls that preceded it, each sides went at every other from the off at Children's Mercy Park.
SKC created the higher possibilities and drew first blood on 17 mins, Shelton bundling the ball into the far corner following a few wonderful paintings down the proper from Zusi.
But the Whitecaps usually seemed risky, simply an incisive skip or using run far from cutting the Kansas City protection open. They subsequently controlled simply that in the 39th minute as Dajome despatched Tim Melia the incorrect manner from the penalty spot after an apparent handball call on Luis Martins.
If Whitecaps head train Vanni Sartini become overjoyed on the equalizer, he'll have been truly livid at his aspect falling behind once more on the stroke of half-time. Especially given the calamitous nature in their protecting from a Johnny Russell nook, failing to clear the ball and finally seeing Isimat-Mirin poking the ball domestic together with his knee from near variety.
Sartini had sincerely offered some robust words inside the locker room at half of time because Vancouver came out like a house on fire after the smash. Dajome and Ryan Gauld seemed in particular dangerous because the Canadian aspect began to transport through the gears in ownership.
But the 'Caps couldn't convert their pressure into significant possibilities and had been punished in the 58th minute as Zusi let rip from 25 yards out, leaving goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau with truly no risk. The purpose become a great praise for the veteran right-lower back, who has enjoyed a resurgent 2021 marketing campaign.
Still, the Whitecaps wouldn't die, persevering with to pile pressure on the SKC protection. Center-returned Andy Rose positioned a unfastened header straight down the throat of Melia from a first-rate Gauld transport. That become simply mins before Brian White compelled an awesome save from Melia, who had to cross all the manner down to his backside-proper corner to hold out the American striker's header.
Though they started to expire of steam, Vancouver in no way gave up the ghost and idea they'd pulled a intention returned in the very last five minutes of ordinary time, only to see Lucas Cavallini's strike dominated out for offside.
