Muller, White lead Whitecaps to 3-0 win over struggling Sporting KC

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Thomas Muller had a goal and an assist, Brian White and Rayan Elloumi each added a goal and the Vancouver Whitecaps beat Sporting Kansas City 3-0 on Saturday night.

The Whitecaps (13-4-4) lead the Western Conference with 43 points and are tied with Eastern Conference-leading Nashville (52 points) for the best goal differential (plus-30) in all of Major League Soccer.

André Luiz, acquired from Greek club Olympiacos FC on Aug. 18, made his MLS debut for Kansas City when the 24-year-old designated player subbed on for Shapi Suleymanov in the 66th minute.

Muller converted from the penalty spot, his third goal in the past five games, to open the scoring in the 40th minute.

Sporting (4-15-3) are winless in six straight. Kansas City is last in MLS with 15 points, 20 goals scored and a minus-34 goal differential. Orlando has the next worst goal differential at minus-17.

Oliver Larraz played a first-touch cross, off a clearance attempt, from the right side of the area to White for a back-heel finish from the top of the six-yard box in the 48th minute and Elloumi capped the scoring with a first-touch finish from point-blank range in the 90th.

White has 13 goals this season, tied for fourth most in MLS.

Vancouver’s Yohei Takaoka, who did not record a save, has 10 shutouts this season, second most in the league (Hugo Lloris, 11).

Stefan Cleveland had three saves. The 32-year-old has allowed at least one goal in each of his 13 starts this season.

The Whitecaps beat Kansas City 3-0 at home on April 17.

UP NEXT

Whitecaps: Host CF Montreal on Wednesday in the Canadian Championship semifinals, then host St. Louis City SC on Saturday, Sept. 5.

Sporting KC: Visit FC Dallas on Saturday, Sept. 5.

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The Associated Press