Sporting Kansas City's Marinos Tzionis (77) and Vancouver Whitecaps' LuÃs Martins (14) chase the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Vancouver, on Saturday, June 3, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
VANCOUVER – A late penalty from Ryan Gauld helped lift the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 1-1 Major League Soccer draw with Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night at B.C. Place.
Vancouver (5-5-6) appeared to be heading for defeat after having a goal called off in the first half for offside and other goalscoring chances called back for the same.
Kansas (4-8-5) opened the scoring in the 20th minute after Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Vite went to clear the ball by flicking it up, only to put it out for a corner.
Sporting captain Alan Pulido was found at the edge of the six-yard box and his header looped over the diving Yohei Takaoka to find the back of the net.
Vancouver substitute Deiber Caicedo was brought down in the box in the 88th minute, with the referee awarding a penalty after a video review, allowing Gauld to score his second goal in two games.
The Whitecaps thought they had tied the game in the 23rd minute as Gauld’s deflected shot trickled past goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh only for the referee to deem it offside.
NEXT UP
The Whitecaps host CF Montreal on Wednesday night in the Canadian Championship final. Their next MLS match is Saturday against visiting FC Cincinnati. Sporting KC will host Austin FC next Saturday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2023.
