A second-half strike from Kevin Ellis has guided Sporting Kansas City to a 1-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps in their MLS clash this evening.
The Whitecaps had the first chance of the match but Tim Melia made a fine save to keep the scores level by denying Octavio Rivero's header from close range after the forward latched on to Mauro Rosales's cross.
The sides then exchanged attempts as Benny Feilhaber pulled a drive just wide of the post, while at the other end Melia had to be alert to race off his line and smother an effort from Kekuta Manneh.
Feilhaber kept the scores level when he headed the ball off the line after Tim Parker thought he had handed the Whitecaps the lead with a nodded effort from Cristian Techera's corner.
In the second half, Kansas City went ahead as Krisztian Nemeth lifted a cross into the box for the run of Ellis, who glanced his header past David Ousted.
Nemeth almost doubled his side's advantage when he saw his strike clatter off the post, while Jacob Peterson put his effort from the rebound wide.
Vancouver responded and only a goalline clearance from Amadou Dia kept Sporting in the lead as Techera's strike deflected off Melia and Matt Besler and almost found its way in before the defender smashed the ball clear.
Peterson almost notched a second for Kansas City when he fired low at goal, but Ousted made the stop, while at the other end Melia made another fine save to tip Rivero's free kick over the bar.
The Whitecaps pushed for an equaliser in the dying minutes, but Melia was once again in fine form as he made an impressive diving stop to tip away Parker's effort and secure the win for his side.
Simon Sinclair
