VANCOUVER, B.C. - Vancouver Whitecaps took time to get going on Saturday evening, but eventually turned in a dominant performance in a 3-0 dismantling the Philadelphia Union at BC Place to regain the top spot in the Western Conference.
First half goals from Pedro Morales and Octavio Rivero set the Whitecaps on their way before substitute Darren Mattocks added a third against a Union side that saw defender Richie Marquez sent off with a straight red in the late going.
The victory moves Vancouver (6-3-2; 20 points) back to at least a share of the lead at the top of the Supporters Shield standings. Philadelphia (1-7-3; 6 points) suffered its fourth straight loss and remains second bottom of the Eastern Conference.
The Union showed no signs of their frustrating start to the season in the early going, combining neatly in the midfield on multiple occasions, though neither side carved out any chances, and MLS debutant Brian Sylvestre was untroubled in the Union goal.
Philadelphia’s early edge peaked in the 26th minute, as the visitors had a wonderful chance to take the lead in what turned out to be their best opportunity of the night. Eric Ayuk's cross-goal shot found Andrew Wenger at the back post, but 'Caps 'keeper David Ousted pulled off a wondrous point blank save as he made himself big while scrambling across his goalline.
Ousted’s save proved to be the changing point of the match, as Vancouver immediately woke up and forced Sylvester into a save on the resulting counter attack. The home side then grabbed the lead six minutes later when Morales beat an offside trap and got on the end of a perfectly weighted Cristian Techera pass before coolly bending the ball around the advancing Sylvestre.
After the goal, Vancouver continued to step up the pressure, and doubled the lead before half time.
Rivero, who scored five goals in his first six MLS matches, had gone a month without scoring, but he grabbed his sixth of the season when he pounced on a poor Philadelphia backpass, muscled his way past Union defender Ethan White, and fired home with ease.
The Whitecaps started the second half in a similar attacking vein when Kekuta Manneh showed some delightful footwork in the box, beating two defenders before being denied by a big save off the foot of Sylvestre.
Vancouver's pressure was unrelentless, but Sylvestre, who himself had been on the Whitecaps roster as a homegrown player from 2011-2012, may have earned himself the starting gig in what has until now been a revolving door in the Union goal. The 6'5" goalkeeper on loan from the Carolina RailHawks not only flashed his shot stopping ability, but showed adept command of his box throughout the night.
Unfortunately, any hopes for a Philadelphia comeback were hindered when Marquez saw a straight red for a reckless challenge on Techera in the 78th minute.
Minutes later, Mattocks wrapped up the win for the Whitecaps when ran onto a Morales pass and turned Union midfielder Maurice Edu inside out before firing home the third.
Vancouver's attention now turns to a first leg Canadian Championship match at home to FC Edmonton on Wednesday, with a Cascadian derby against Seattle quickly following on Saturday. Philadelphia return home for a fierce Eastern Conference clash with DC United on Sunday.
