By The Numbers: #SKCvVAN | May 28, 2022

"By The Numbers" is a season-long series that gives a statistical preview of every Sporting match. To visit the series archive, click here.

Sporting Kansas welcomes the Vancouver Whitecaps back to Kansas City Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park for a rematch of the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One last November. Kickoff for what promises to be an exciting match between budding rivals is set for 8 p.m. CT and will air on 38 The Spot.

Vancouver got the better of Sporting on April 2, winning 1-0 in front of their home fans at BC Place. Sporting has been terrific at home this season, boasting a 5-1-2 record at home in all competitions. Contrasting that home success to the Whitecaps' road struggles, the visitors have yet to pick up a result on the road.

Below, we provide a statistical preview of the weekend matchup between Sporting Kansas City and the Vancouver Whitecaps  

Head-to-Head

• Sporting last hosted Vancouver on Nov. 20, 2021, defeating the Whitecaps by a 3-1 scoreline in the Western Conference quarterfinals of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
• Sporting are 11-5-4 against Vancouver in the MLS regular season, including a 6-1-2 mark at home.
• Sporting have not lost to Vancouver at home since Sept. 30, 2017, going 3-0-1 in the last four MLS meetings at Children’s Mercy Park, including last year’s playoff match.
• Sporting have lost the last two regular season meetings, both at BC Place in Vancouver. The teams last met on April 2 as Ryan Raposo scored in the 73rd minute to give the Whitecaps a 1-0 home win.
• Johnny Russell has four goals and two assists in seven regular season appearances against Vancouver.

Sporting Kansas City

• 2022 MLS record: 3-7-4, 13 points (13th in Western Conference)
• 2022 MLS home record:3-1-2, 11 point (7 GF, 5 GA)
• 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs: Lost to Real Salt Lake in Western Conference Semifinals
• All-time Honors: Two MLS Cups (2000, 2013), four Open Cups (2004, 2012, 2015, 2017), one Supporters' Shield (2000).
• Sporting have lost just once in their last eight matches across all competitions, posting a 3-1-4 record since April 23.
• Sporting’s one loss since April 23 is tied for the second-fewest in MLS. New York City FC are the only unbeaten team over the last five weeks.
• Sporting are finishing a stretch of seven competitive matches in 22 days between May 7-28, including two wins in the U.S. Open Cup. The team has posted a 3-1-2 record during that stretch with the lone loss coming on May 14 at the Portland Timbers.
• Sporting have prevailed in 22 U.S. Open Cup matches since 2012, three more than any other team.
• Forward Johnny Russell has three goals in his last two matches and leads the team with six goals this season in all competitions.
• Russell ranks eighth in MLS this season in dribbles completed (26) and touches inside the opponent’s box (58) as well as ninth in duels won (91). His 75 combined goals (44) and assists (31) in the regular season are third-most in MLS since the start of 2018.
• Sporting KC Academy products Cam Duke and Felipe Hernandez are tied for the team lead with three assists this season.
• Midfielder Remi Walter leads MLS in distance covered (99.7 miles), minutes played (1,260) and recoveries among field players (122). His two goals this year have equaled his career-high for a single league season dating back to 2013.
• Midfielder Roger Espinoza, who ranks fourth in MLS with 14 possessions won in the attacking third, has become the third active MLS player to record an assist in 13 different MLS seasons alongside Kei Kamara and Dax McCarty.

Vancouver Whitecaps

• 2022 MLS record: 3-7-2, 11 points (14th in Western Conference)
• 2022 MLS road record: 0-6-0 (4 GF, 16 GA)
• 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs: Lost to Sporting Kansas City in Western Conference quarterfinals
• All-time Honors: One Canadian Championship (2015)
• Vancouver have lost all six regular season away matches in 2022, scoring four goals and conceding 16. They are the only MLS team without a road point this year.
• Vancouver have lost seven straight MLS away matches dating back to last season, including playoffs.
• Vancouver have scored three first-half goals this season, the fewest in MLS. They have been outscored 11-3 in the first half.
• Vancouver are 2-3-1 when scoring the first goal this season. Their three losses when going ahead 1-0 are the most in MLS.
• Vancouver rank last in MLS in big chances created (eight) and second-to-last in MLS in average possession (41.2%).
• Defender Ranko Veselinovic ranks third in MLS with 67 clearances.
• Forward Lucas Cavallini, who leads Vancouver with three regular season goals and 30 shot attempts, ranks sixth in MLS with 36 aerial duels won. He is also tied for the team lead with two assists alongside three other Whitecaps.
• Midfielder Russell Teibert and wing back Javain Brown are the only Vancouver players to appear in all 12 regular season matches this year.
• Winger Deiber Caicedo leads Vancouver with 14 chances created.

Milestones and Miscellany

• Manager Peter Vermes has coached in exactly half of Sporting’s regular season matches all-time (417 of 834) and over half of the club’s matches in all competitions (494 of 984).
• Midfielder Roger Espinoza has made 299 career regular season appearances for Sporting, fourth-most all-time among one-club MLS players. He is one shy of his 300th regular season appearance and his 350th appearance for Sporting in all competitions.
• Forward Johnny Russell ranks third in club history with 44 regular season goals and fourth with 49 goals in all competitions.