Whitecaps dominate Dallas in return to top

Vancouver Whitecaps 5-0 FC Dallas

VANCOUVER, BC–Vancouver Whitecaps came back in a big way on Saturday as they thrashed FC Dallas, 5-0, at BC Place and returned to the top of the Western Conference. Combined with Houston losing at St. Louis, the Whitecaps are back on top of the West by two points. FC Dallas miss out on a chance to go top four themselves with LAFC held at home by Portland and San Jose losing to Minnesota. They sit in fifth even on points with San Jose and St. Louis, behind the former on wins and ahead of latter on goal difference.

FC Dallas fielded three center backs on this night due to this being the third match in eight days, but it did not help with defending corners. A failed clearance went to the feet of Emmanuel Sabbi at the edge of the area and he managed to get it through the defense and past Jonathan Sirois for the opening score on eleven minutes.

The Whitecaps doubled their lead in the 24th minute as Tristan Blackmon sent a long ball to Edier Ocampo, who got in behind the defense and sent a low cross to Brian White in front of goal and White had an easy finish. White got his second in the 37th minute as another failed FCD clearance off a corner went to him and he struck on the volley.

Logan Farrington had a chance to pull one back for Dallas three minutes later, but he struck the shot off the post. Farrington would later to be stripped of the ball in first half stoppage time, and the Whitecapsmoved back down the pitch and Andres Cubas found Ocampo in the box who headed in from an acute angle to make it four.

FC Dallas made four substitutions at halftime, including Farrington, but that did not help much at all as they were too overwhelmed by Vancouver’s attack. Indeed. Deiber Caicedo would make it 5-0 after a setup from Thomas Müller.

Next Saturday, Vancouver travel to Sporting Kansas City (5:30pm PT, Apple TV), while FC Dallas travel to St. Louis a week from Sunday (6pm CT, Apple TV).

Photos by Gerrit te Hennepe