Sabbi scores, Vancouver Whitecaps blank Sporting Kansas City 3-0

Vancouver Whitecaps' Bruno Caicedo, left, and Edier Ocampo celebrate Caicedo's goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Sporting Kansas City, in Vancouver, on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press)

VANCOUVER — Two months into his tenure with the Vancouver Whitecaps, Bruno Caicedo is finding his way — both on and off the field.

The 21-year-old Ecuadorean forward is growing relationships with his teammates and racking up milestones.

His latest came Friday when he buried his first goal during his first start for the MLS club.

“It was something I really wanted, something I was craving, something I really wanted to help the team with,” he said in Spanish through an interpreter after helping the ‘Caps to a 3-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City. “I’m really happy for scoring my first goal.”

Vancouver (7-1-0) was already up 1-0 when Caicedo collected a ball at the top of the penalty area. He drove in, chipped a shot through a pair of defenders, and put it in off the post in the 23rd minute.

“That goal was for the fans who were chanting my name in the stands today. They were helping me, even when I was tired,” he said.

“I’m going to continue to give my best for them and for the club.”

The Whitecaps acquired Caicedo from Barcelona SC in a transfer back in January, but he didn’t join the team in Vancouver until the end of February as he waited for his international paperwork. He made his debut for the club on March 4, coming off the bench and playing 19 minutes.

Adapting to both a new city and a new club has been a quick process, Caicedo said, thanks in part to the other Latino players.

“They’ve helped me integrate myself in the team and also integrate myself with my teammates. The team has been sensational since I’ve been here,” he said.

Seeing the five-foot-11 forward score on Friday was “a little bit special,” said head coach Jesper Sorensen.

“I think Bruno had a good game,” he said. “We also saw that he can, that he can really be a threat going one-on-one. And I think for him, it was a very good first game. And obviously, we’re looking forward to a lot more from him. He’s very promising.”

The ‘Caps (7-1-0) controlled play through much of the game, maintaining 50.7 per cent possession and outshooting SKC 25-3, with a 6-1 edge in on-target shots.

Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka made one save to register his fifth clean sheet of the season. John Pulskamp registered two stops for Kansas City (1-6-1).

The home side took an early lead off a scramble in the SKC six-yard box.

Striker Brian White was tripped up as he went for a shot in the penalty area, and his teammate Mathias Laborda was similarly chopped down as he went after the loose ball. Sabbi then got to it and sent a right-footed shot in to put Vancouver up 1-0 in the 13th minute.

A big play from Sabbi helped the home side to a 3-0 cushion before halftime.

The American midfielder dove near the corner flag to scoop the ball off the line and keep it in play, then crossed it in to Muller. The German soccer legend headed it past Pulskamp in the 28th minute for his fourth goal of the season.

Muller now has 13 goals and five assists across his first 25 games with the Whitecaps.

Getting goal contributions throughout the lineup has been a strength for the ‘Caps early in the campaign.

Fourteen different players have had a goal, an assist or both across all competitions this year.

“I like that we have a wide spread of players who can do different things and contribute to chances and goals,” Sorensen said. “And it’s a luxury thing that you have that many options, because it also makes it more difficult and unpredictable for the opponents to shut us down.”

Kansas City’s first shot of the game came in the 65th minute when substitute Ian James fired the ball from the top of the six-yard box, only to see Vancouver defender Tristan Blackmon slide in for a block.

The ‘Caps did a great job defensively against SKC, said defensive midfielder Andres Cubas.

“The most fundamental thing about that was the pressure that we had on second balls and trying to play in their half as much as we could,” he said in Spanish through an interpreter.

“We tried to prevent them from having counterattacks and putting pressure on the ball quickly, and that kept them in their half. We kept pressuring them and making sure we attacked as much as we could. And I think that’s the biggest part of why we were so successful tonight.”

Sporting has now lost four MLS games in a row, with its lone victory of the season being a 2-1 decision over the L.A. Galaxy on March 14.

NOTES

Sabbi went down in the 79th minute and was looked at by trainers before he walked off the field. He was replaced by Cheikh Sabaly in the 82nd minute. Sorensen did not have an update on his status after the game. Right back Nikola Djordjevic came on for Edier Ocampo in the 82nd minute, making his ‘Caps debut. Vancouver leads the MLS in goals with 22 on the season. An announced crowd of 21,777 took in the game at B.C. Place.

UP NEXT

Whitecaps: Wrap a five-game homestand April 25 against the Colorado Rapids.

SKC: Visit the Chicago Fire on April 25.

This report by Gemma Karstens-Smith of The Canadian Press was first published April 17, 2026.