Whitecaps look to build on Canadian Championship momentum against Kansas City

VANCOUVER — The road has not been kind to the Vancouver Whitecaps this season.

Three months into the 2022 campaign, the 'Caps (3-7-2) have yet to earn a result away from B.C. Place, dropping six straight road games. They are the only Major League Soccer team without an away point this season.

It's a trend the club needs to reverse in short order, said defender Jake Nerwinski.

"I think everybody kind of knows it," he said. "It's been six games now that we haven't. And I think in order for us to make that leap into the playoff contention, we're gonna have to start getting points on the road."

Vancouver's next chance to change its fortunes comes Saturday when they visit Sporting Kansas City (3-7-4).

Both clubs sit at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, separated by just two points. A win in Kansas would see the 'Caps leapfrog SKC and get out of last place.

The 'Caps know what they need to do to move up the table, especially after beating Kansas City 2-1 back on April 2, Nerwinski said.

"(Sporting's) front four is always very dangerous, dynamic. Very good on the ball," he said. "But we are able to kind of exploit them (in the last game) with our press. So I think if we can do that, press them, keep them under pressure, we're gonna get chances off."

Kansas City has struggled this season, going winless in April and getting blown out 7-2 by the Portland Timbers earlier this month. But the team is unbeaten in its last three games across all competition (2-0-1), and is coming off a 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo in U.S. Open Cup action on Wednesday.

Sporting has been strong at Children's Mercy Park this year, boasting a 3-1-2 record.

The field was the site of a tough game for Vancouver in November, when SKC ousted