Russell and Medranda lead SKC to dominant win over Vancouver

Dejan Kalinic

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Russell and Medranda lead SKC to dominant win over Vancouver image

A Johnny Russell hat-trick and Jimmy Medranda's stunner helped Sporting Kansas City to a 6-0 thrashing of a nine-man Vancouver Whitecaps side in MLS Friday.

The former Scotland and Derby County forward starred as Sporting moved seven points clear atop the Western Conference.

Russell opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a neat finish from a Roger Espinoza cutback.

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That duo combined again just minutes later, with Russell surging into the area before finding the bottom corner and putting the home side into a dominant position early on. 

The night got worse for the Whitecaps, who narrowly missed out on the top spot in the West last season, when Jimmy Medranda produced a spectacular goal to make it 3-0 on the half-hour mark. 

The 24-year-old unleashed a stunning strike from the left wing, leaving Vancouver goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic with no chance. 

Vancouver then had the night turn from bad to terrible just before the break.

Yordy Reyna and Efrain Juarez were both sent off following a video review, leaving the club trailing 3-0 and down to nine men. 

Only a Marinovic penalty stop to deny Ilie saved the Whitecaps from conceding once more to finish the half.

Russell completed his hat-trick shortly after halftime with a neat finish from an angle, before Cristian Lobato made it 5-0.

Yohan Croizet added a sixth for Sporting in the 77th minute as they made the most of their numerical advantage in a resounding win.

Dejan Kalinic