Sporting 3, Whitecaps 0: Shutout loss deals vicious blow to Vancouver's playoff hopes
J.J. Adams More from J.J. Adams
Updated: July 13, 2019 10:36 PM PDT
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It was the second straight win for Sporting Kansas City (6-7-7), who extended their points lead on Vancouver (4-9-8) to five points with a game in hand. The Whitecaps haven't won since May 25, and have just one victory in their last 10 league games.
The cheers rang from the 18,700 fans at B.C. Place, the applause filling the dome with a wall of sound.
But it wasn't for the Vancouver Whitecaps. It was for former player Alphonso Davies, making a brief cameo appearance, waving to the supporters section during the first half. There wasn't much to cheer for on the field, as the Caps dropped their third straight game, losing 3-0 to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night.
A strike by Gerso deflected off the foot of Ali Adnan and into the net 24 minutes into the game, but it was as reflection of the control and dominance Sporting exhibited. A giveaway in their own end led to a goal from Felipe Gutiérrez 10 minutes into the second half, and there was no way back for the Whitecaps after that. Gerso made sure in the first minute of injury time, banging home a loose ball in the six-yard box.
#vwfc could have done with this guy @AlphonsoDavies who made a guest appearance this afternoon. Biggest cheer of the night. pic.twitter.com/lmQILExt2F
— Oscar Beardmore-Gray (@oscarbg95) July 14, 2019
It was the second straight win for Sporting (6-7-7), who extended their points lead on Vancouver (4-9-8) to five points with a game in hand. The Whitecaps haven't won since May 25, and have just one victory in their last 10 league games.
Boos rang down after Gerso's goal — the first time catcalls have come out this season — as fans started streaming for the exits early.
Including Wednesday's scoreless draw with Cavalry FC in the Canadian Championship, the Whitecaps have been shut out in three of their last four games, getting outscored 10-1 along the way.
"(At) this stage right now, we're a little bit fragile. We're in a position now where every time an opponent scores, it looks 'heavy.' And we need to grow at that. We need to have a different type of mental toughness and react in a better way," said coach Marc Dos Santos.
"I told the players what I'm going to say now. I have to apologize to the fans for the first half. I think that's where the game happened. It was very sloppy, lack of intensity, lack of willingness, mentally not in the game for a game that had so much importance for us.
"Then in the second half, it became an exaggerated result. … When we don't score, 2-0, and then the result got exaggerated. But the first half was key to our performance today. We didn't deserve to win today."
Sporting Kansas City forward Gerso Fernandes (12) defends Vancouver Whitecaps defender Ali Adnan (53) during the first half at BC Place. Anne-Marie Sorvin / USA TODAY Sports
Here's what we learned …
BAIR NECESSITY
Theo Bair got his first career MLS start Saturday, with regular striker Fredy Montero suspended for the match after getting a red card last week in L.A.
The big homegrown striker from Ottawa put in a strong showing, coming close on several occasions to opening his scoring account, and holding the ball up well as a target man at midfield when dropping deep for the ball.
"I think today, the positive of the game was Theo Bair. It was positive to have him there, it was positive to see what he brought to the team. It was great. It was a positive sign," said Dos Santos. "Yesterday, I told him he was playing not because Fredy is suspended, but because he deserved by his work during the month, and his commitment and what he brought in training. He's a kid that deserved and asked to play. What he did well was what we need from a forward.
"For him to have this complete game, he just needed to score. … That would complete his game. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. But I think he has to come out of tonight with his head up."
The Whitecaps have been keen to establish a 'vertical integration' between their academy and U23 development team to the first squad, and Bair's start was the first league debut by a homegrown rookie since Davies did it on Sept. 24, 2016 against Colorado.
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound 19-year-old had made two MLS appearances as substitute this season for a grand total of 44 minutes, which he more than doubled by going the distance on Saturday. He was whistled for two dubious fouls and didn't get the benefit of a single whistle from Ramy Touchan, despite being dragged down on a couple of occasions.
"It's been that way my entire life. Every time I touch someone, they usually fall," said Bair. "It's something I need to adjust to. Maybe pull out a little bit."
Bair also was named to the MLS Homegrown Game, which will see a team of the best MLS youngsters face Chivas de Guadalajara's Under-20 squad on Tuesday, July 30 at 2 p.m. PT at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando. The match will be streamed on Twitter.
Bair's sights haven't reached that far ahead, as he was still dealing with the emotions from his starting XI debut.
"Lots of adrenalin. I felt good. It was unfortunate to not get the W … but we have a good group of players, and I think as long as we believe in each other, this season will go well from here," he said. "I'm trying not to think about (the Homegrown game) too much. I just played my first 90 minutes with the team. Once that game comes, I'll take the time to enjoy it.
Vancouver Whitecaps' Ali Adnan, left, is stopped by Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia during the second half of an MLS soccer game in Vancouver, on Saturday. DARRYL DYCK / THE CANADIAN PRESS
That Kansas City controlled the play shouldn't have been surprising, as Sporting is fourth in away possession at 52 per cent, but they also left two of their best players in Johnny Russell and Krisztián Németh on the bench for much of it. Németh came on in the 71st minute, and Russell made a brief appearance starting in the 89th.
The Whitecaps were desperate for a result to stay within reach of the playoff line — they're now nine points adrift and in last in the West — but were put on the defensive almost from the start.
KC finished with 56.3 per cent, but had more than 60 per cent of the ball in establishing their 2-0 lead, sitting back more defensively after that.
Shots were 11-4 in the first half for Sporting, but with the Caps pressing in the second stanza, narrowed that number to 20-13, (10-6 on target).
LINEUP CHANGEUP
Bair wasn't the only surprise inclusion in the lineup, with Victor (PC) Giro stepping in in the midfield, Andy Rose resuming duties as a centreback on the left side, and Zac MacMath filling in for Maxime Crepeau.
MacMath made seven saves, including two point-blank stops, but there were some nervy moments that made for speculation as to why Crepeau was on the bench. MacMath also was guilty of a bad clearance that Sporting turned into a goal three touches after.
"From L.A. to the end of August, we have a possibility of 15 games. We were looking at the where is the best time right now to rotate before Max gets a big stretch. This was the time for us," Dos Santos said on the decision to start MacMath.
"It's tough for a goalkeeper to play 15 games in two months, and we don't want to get nobody injured, so that was the thought behind (it).
"Zac showed in other games he could do the job. I trust Zac and I think he has the ability to do well in this league."
Reyna was the most effective player for Vancouver on the night, ringing a free kick off the upright and making a general nuisance of himself in pressuring the Kansas back line. He had a game-high four shots, two on target, and tied with Adnan for a team-high three key passes.
Adnan received a yellow card in injury time and will miss Wednesday's game in New England because of accumulation.
jadams@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/TheRealJJAdams
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