Whitecaps unbeaten in ten again after a win over Quakes

Vancouver Whitecaps 4-1 San Jose Earthquakes

VANCOUVER, BC–For the second time this season, Vancouver Whitecaps are unbeaten in ten straight matches in all competitions after a 4-1 win over San Jose Earthquakes at BC Place. The win also helps them keep level on points with San Diego for top spot in the West with San Diego having the tiebreaker on more wins, but the Whitecaps having a match in hand. Meanwhile, San Jose drop out of the playoff places and will be eliminated if both Dallas and Real Salt Lake get favorable results with their matches in hand.

San Jose nearly got on the board first in the seventh minute, but Ralph Priso was in the right place at the right time to head a Josef Martinez header off the line. The Whitecaps had several chances as well that were denied by either the post or Daniel. However, the hosts would break through in the 39th minute as Rayan Elloumi would put in Sebastian Berhalter’s free kick from on the volley from the back post.

In the 57th minute, Thomas Müller would net his sixth goal with the Whitecaps threading a shot through far post to make it 2-0. Berhalter would make it 3-0 with a strike from 30 yards out in the 74th minute.

Beau Leroux would pull on back for the Quakes in the 89th minute, but Berhalter would complete the scoring with another shot from distance that Daniel could not keep out.

Photo: Gerrit te Hennepe

The Whitecaps travel to Orlando next Saturday (4:30pm PT, Apple TV) in an attempt to gain top spot in the West heading into Decision Day. San Jose will hope that they still have a shot at the playoffs come Decision Day, but they need a lot of help next week and on Decision Day when the Quakes host Austin FC on October 18th (6pm PT, Apple TV).

Photos by Gerrit te Hennepe