photo credit: Brian Sanders
Sporting Kansas City’s players were expected to produce a performance that exemplified the performance of the fans and backroom staff as both the tifo display and pregame laser light show was definitely a display for fans to enjoy.
Dom Dwyer stepped up as his first half brace was more than enough to defeat the 10 man Vancouver Whitecaps in front of a boisterous crowd at Children’s Mercy Park.
Smoke and fireworks had hardly settled as Dwyer capitalized on a poor pass in the Whitecaps defensive half. From there a mere three touches of the ball to put him at the top of the box before blasting a rocked past keeper David Ousted to send the crowd into a frenzy despite being only in the fifth minute.
From there, despite Carl Robinson’s squad’s efforts, Sporting KC maintained a hold on the match winning balls on the floor and in the air as well as winning the possession battle.
As the half drew on efforts to harry the Sporting attack took place. Defensive errors lead to a sudden flurry of cards in the last 10 minutes of the second half. First Octavio Rivero for an aggressive foul from the side in the 36th. Second was issued to Kendell Watson as he was one of the last defenders and whose foul only warranted yellow in the 38th. A straight red card issued in the first minute of stoppage time to Jordan Smith for his tackle from behind would leave the match skewed in the host’s favor.
Despite this Vancouver was not without opportunities as Kekuta Manneh perfectly played the offside rule to find himself one on one with keeper Tim Melia. The Sporting keeper stood up to the goal-scoring opportunity as he smothered the ball. A bailout of government proportions but nonetheless what has been shown regularly since attaining the starting position.
Nearing the end of the half the usefulness of Sporting Kansas City’s width came into play. Graham Zusi from the left side crossed over to Chance Myers from the far right. Receiving the ball his own cross through the box found a streaking Dom Dwyer who put the ball in the back of the net for his second of the half.
After the start of the second half Vancouver was extended a lifeline. Melia came out from his line to smother the cross in for Rivero. Bobbling the ball and bringing down the Whitecap attacker the referee conceded that the right call was a penalty kick. Pedro Morales converted and suddenly there was light for the Canadian side.
Work from the Sporting Kansas City midfield, including the hard work put in from Roger Espinoza, stifled what attack Vancouver attempted during the remainder of the half with the result not settled.
This victory provides Sporting Kansas City with six points from their first two matches, first time since 2012 that this has happened. Vancouver has zero points from their first two matches, a first since entering Major League Soccer in 2011.
MLS Western
Sporting KC
