The attention converged on LA Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose anticipated arrival to MLS was actually outdone by his on-field performance. A 19-minute debut sparked tens of thousands of media items published over the last week.
Sporting Kansas City spoiled the encore Sunday in California.
Daniel Salloi and Johnny Russell provided second-half goals, the spark to a 2-0 Sporting KC victory at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.
The win puts Sporting KC (4-1-1) alone atop the Western Conference standings with 13 points, three clear of Vancouver. It is unbeaten over its last five matches after an opening-night dud, and it has already matched its road win total (2) from 2017.