The story of the first half was missed opportunities. Sporting Kansas City dominated possession as normal but could not capitalize. Diego Rubio had the best chances but Vancouver keeper Stefan Marinovic seemed to always be in the right spot.
When Daniel Salloi was taken down at the edge of the box in the eighth minute, referee Baldomero Toledo initially called for a free kick just outside the box but thanks to VAR it became a penalty.
Rubio hammered the ball off the post and the rebound was cleared out of danger.