Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka (1) blocks a shot during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Sporting Kansas City, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Trio leads Whitecaps to 2-0 victory over Sporting KC
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Édier Ocampo scored two minutes into the match, Kenji Cabrera scored his first goal in his third appearance and Yohei Takaoka needed just one save for his league-leading 13th clean sheet of the season in the Vancouver Whitecaps’ 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night.
Vancouver (16-6-7) pulled within two points of first-place San Diego FC in the Western Conference with two matches in hand.
The Whitecaps jumped in front when rookie defender Ocampo scored his second goal. Rookie forward Emmanuel Sabbi notched his third assist on the netter.
Cabrera — a 22-year-old midfielder — took a pass from Ali Ahmed in the 43rd minute of his first start and scored for a 2-0 lead at the half. Ahmed’s assist was his career-high seventh of the season. He had one assist in his first 46 appearances.
John Pulskamp stopped two shots in goal for Sporting KC (7-18-6).
Sporting KC travels to play the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday. The Whitecaps travel to play the Seattle Sounders on Saturday.
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter (16) kicks the ball away from Sporting Kansas City midfielder Zorhan Bassong (22) during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Sporting Kansas City midfielder Jake Davis, right, kicks the ball under pressure from Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Jean-Claude Ngando (26) during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ali Ahmed (22) is chased by Sporting Kansas City midfielder Erik Thommy, right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Jean-Claude Ngando (26) kicks the ball past Sporting Kansas City midfielder Erik Thommy, left, during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ali Ahmed, left, tries to steal the ball from Sporting Kansas City defender Khiry Shelton, right, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)A ball kicked by Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Kenji Cabrera gets past Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper John Pulskamp, left, to score a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Sporting Kansas City midfielder Erik Thommy, top, leaps over Vancouver Whitecaps defender Edier Ocampo during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Sporting Kansas City midfielder Santiago Munoz, left, and Vancouver Whitecaps defender Mathias Laborda (2) battle for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Sporting Kansas City defender Ian James (2) and Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Kenji Cabrera (17) chase after the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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