Sporting KC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC Prediction, 5/16/2021 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Josh Schonwald - 5/13/2021

Game: Sporting KC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Date: Sunday, May 16, 2021

Location: Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Kansas City (-356) Vancouver (+972)

Khiry Shelton and Sporting KC (2-1-2, 7th in Western Conference) play the Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2-1-2, 5th in Western Conference) at Children's Mercy Park on Sunday. The expected starting goaltenders will be Tim Melia for Sporting KC and Maxime Crepeau for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Sporting Kansas City is priced at -356 while the Whitecaps are at +972. The O/U has been set at 3.25.

Kansas City faced off with Austin in their most recent game and went home with a win by a final score of 2-1. Sporting KC tried 20 dribbles in this outing and were successful in 12 of the dribbles for a percentage of 60.0%. In sharing the ball, they earned a 88.8% rate by connecting on 434 of the 489 pass targets in their last game. Concerning shot accuracy, Kansas City finished at a 32.0% clip by putting 8 shots on target of 25 total shots. Kansas City is averaging 1.20 goals per 90 min (6 total goals) and have tallied 4 assists in all contests for the season.

Khiry Shelton is a player you are going to want to keep your eye on for Sporting KC. He has 14 assists while accumulating 6 yellow card cautions during his pro soccer career. Shelton has started 61 matches during his pro soccer career and he has earned 0.20 goals per 90 minutes. The forward who is from the United States has tallied 13 goals scored in 5,891 minutes. Another guy who should impact this match is Johnny Russell, the forward representing Scotland. Russell has totaled 26,335 minutes in 297 starts and has been handed a total of 27 yellow card warnings. He has assisted a teammate on a goal 50 times during his pro soccer career while scoring 90 goals. He has an average of 0.31 goals per 90 mins during his pro soccer career.

The man who will defend the goal for Sporting KC is Tim Melia. Melia (78-48-65 record during his career) has earned 59 shutouts, which gives him a 31.1% shutout percentage. The goalkeeper hailing from the United States has seen 825 shots tried at him in 190 starting assignments. His goals allowed per 90 minutes is 1.26 (239 total goals allowed) and his save percentage is 72.4. Melia has played for 17,063 mins and has earned 593 saves during his soccer career.

When they last played, Vancouver walked away with a victory by a final of 2-0 against Montreal. The Whitecaps finished with a 47.1% successful dribble rate by completing 8 out of the 17 dribbles they attempted. They wrapped up this match by completing 279 out of their 350 passing tries earning a percentage of 79.7%. Vancouver had 3 shots on target out of their 9 shots attempted earning them a 33.3% rate in their last match. Having a total of 5 goals and 3 assists in all their games, Vancouver averages 1.00 goal and 0.60 assists per 90.

Lucas Cavallini should provide a spark for Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The forward hailing from Canada has been on the pitch for 14,372 mins and has scored 67 goals. He has 68 yellow cards in his career and has assisted on a goal 6 times. He has an average of 0.42 goals per 90 and has started 160 matches so far in his pro soccer career. You should also keep an eye on Cristian Dajome, the forward representing Colombia. Dajome has been handed a total of 20 yellow cards in 11,182 minutes (125 starts). His goals per 90 min average so far in his career is 0.23. He has accounted for 28 goals so far in his career while assisting a teammate on a goal 10 times.

Maxime Crepeau is expected to look after the goal for Vancouver Whitecaps FC. During his professional soccer career, Crepeau has surrendered 149 goals and has tallied 341 stops in 99 starts. He has allowed 1.51 goals per 90 and he has a record of 27-18-53. He has a save percentage of 71.3 and his clean sheet rate sits at 26.3%. Crepeau has totaled 26 clean sheets while he has seen 481 shots tried against him in 8,877 minutes throughout his career.

Who will win tonight's MLS game ATS?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Vancouver (+972)

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Sporting KC vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC Prediction, 5/16/2021 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

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