Sporting Kansas City can’t catch Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS loss north of border

Sporting Kansas City couldn’t catch the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday night, losing 2-1 in a Major League Soccer match at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada.

The Whitecaps scored first on a Robert Voloder own-goal in the 34th minute. The Sporting KC defender was trying to beat Vancouver’s Brian White to the ball.

It was 1-0 Vancouver at halftime.

Sporting KC came out with renewed energy in the second half. Three subs entered the match for Sporting at that point: Khiry Shelton, Erik Thommy and Stephen Afrifa came on for Alenis Vargas, Alan Pulido, and Kayden Pierre.

The subs energized Kansas City. Afrifa knocked a shot off the bar and Daniel Salloi ripped one that seemed destined for the top corner of the net ... until Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka came up with a stop worthy of being a save-of-the-week candidate.

Willy Agada finally broke through for Sporting KC in the 69th minute, knocking in a goal off a rebound to equalize things at a goal apiece.

But Fafa Picault put the hosts back in front for good with a one-on-one goal against Sporting keeper Tim Melia. That followed a defensive breakdown by KC in the 76th minute.

This story will be updated.

Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.