Two teams on significant recent slides, the Vancouver Whitecaps and Sporting Kansas City, will be counting on better outcomes when they meet Wednesday night at Kansas City, Kan.
On a 0-3-3 stretch, Vancouver (5-5-4, 19 points) lost 2-1 to visiting Inter Miami on Saturday in front of a record home crowd of about 51,035, which had mixed rooting interests.
Most fans won’t be pulling for the Whitecaps in Kansas City.
“Anytime we’ve played Sporting KC, we’ve had a tough game, especially in their stadium.” Vancouver midfielder Ryan Gauld said. “It’s a good crowd and a good atmosphere.”
The recent outcomes might be more taxing on the Whitecaps mentally than physically.
“Condition-wise, we’re good,” Whitecaps coach Vanni Sartini said. “Last game, we pushed, pushed to the end of the game. In terms of morale, I think it’s OK. Of course, you’ll get frustrated when you don’t get results.”
Sartini said the Whitecaps played well enough to win three of the past six matches, so he doesn’t see the recent struggles as all doom and gloom.
Gauld, who scored the Whitecaps’ goal in Saturday’s loss, is tied with Bryan White for the team lead in goals with five.
Kansas City (2-7-5, 11 points) is tied for last in the Western Conference.
Kansas City fell 2-1 on Saturday night at Portland, dropping its fifth consecutive match with a winless streak extending to eight matches (0-6-2).
“I think they’re the kind of team that will pick up as the season goes on,” Gauld said. “Hopefully, we can go in there and not let them get started.”
Kansas City coach Peter Vermes has bemoaned the team’s inconsistent play. It’s become a trend that keeps recurring.
“Every year we have this problem,” Kansas City forward Daniel Salloi said. “It’s difficult to get out.”
There was an encouraging moment in Saturday’s match as Kansas City newcomer Memo Rodriguez registered his first MLS goal in nearly a year (May 31, 2023). Rodriguez has a team-high four assists.
Kansas City forward Alan Pulido has a two-match assist streak.
For the Whitecaps, this midweek match presents an opportunity.
“It’s a very important game,” Sartini said. “It’s a team that is behind us in the standings.”
Kansas City won last year’s home match with Vancouver, a 3-0 victory last July. That pushed the team’s series edge to 12-6-5.
–Field Level Media