Report Card: Whitecaps vs Sporting KC

Tim Parker: B+

The rookie was as calm as anyone could ask for, and his headed clearances were just as well-timed and effective as Kendall Waston's. Aside from the single Sporting Kansas City goal, which was more the result of Jordan Harvey's poor closing down of Krisztian Nemeth than poor marking by either center back, Parker hardly put a foot wrong. In fact, the New York native could've had a goal of his own if it weren't for a goal line clearance by Benny Feilhaber in the 13th minute. If Parker can continue his solid form, Pa Modou Kah could be out of the starting lineup for even longer than his injury demands.

Matias Laba: A-

It wasn't really a noticeably performance from Laba until late in the game, when he won ball after ball with his sublime tackling skills. He really adds a dimension to the Vancouver Whitecaps that no one else can. I personally think he links up better with Teibert than Koffie or Flores, but he's consistently a top performer regardless of the form of the players around him.

Octavio Rivero: B+

It's easy to point out the fact that Rivero hasn't scored a goal from open play in eons, but his hold-up play is truly superb. None of the other Whitecaps forwards can come close to the body position and ball control that Rivero utilizes when he's taking on an opposing defender. If it weren't for an exceptional performance from Tim Melia between the sticks for Sporting, Rivero could have had a goal or two to show for his efforts. At this rate he's not going to win the Golden Boot, but he's still keeping pace with Bradley Wright Phillips, Charlie Davies, and even Obafemi Martins in terms of goal production.

Substitutions:

Deybi Flores: C

I'm really not sold on the young Honduran. He looked shaky against the Colorado Rapids and did nothing to change that image on Sunday night. Flores added nothing that Gershon Koffie wasn't already bringing to the game, and if anything looked less of a goal threat. Hanging back and pinging long balls over the top isn't what an impact substitute is meant to do. At this point I'd much rather see Ben McKendry make the move up from the Thundercaps than watch Flores continue to disappoint.

Robert Earnshaw: n/a

If he'd come on ten minutes earlier there might be something to write here (and dare I say the match result might look a bit better as well).

Erik Hurtado: n/a

I'm not sure he even touched the ball... It's hard to believe that this time last year he was our go-to striker.

As always, leave your comments and questions down below.