VANCOUVER — Brian White scored twice and the Vancouver Whitecaps extended their winning streak with a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.
The American striker put away his first of the night in the 23rd minute, then added another in the 85th.
Cheikh Sabaly also scored for the ‘Caps (8-1-0), who won their fourth straight Major League Soccer match.
The Rapids (4-5-1) got a goal from Rafael Navarro in first-half injury time in a play that went to video review for a possible handball but ultimately stood.
The Whitecaps saw a video-review call go the other way, with Bruno Caicedo’s apparent goal in the 77th minute getting waived off for a handball.
Colorado controlled 55 per cent of possession across the game, but Vancouver outshot the visitors 20-13 and held an 8-3 lead in on-target shots.
The result capped a season-high five-game homestand that saw the Whitecaps go 4-1-0.
The ‘Caps were quick to open the scoring Saturday, getting on the board before some fans had filtered to their seats.
Emmanuel Sabbi sent a cross into Thomas Muller and the German superstar ticked a quick pass to Sabaly at the top to the six-yard box. The Senegalese midfielder directed a sliding shot in past Colorado ‘keeper Zack Steffen to give the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute.
The home side kept up the pressure through the early part of the game and capitalized when Steffen came well off his line.
Defensive midfielder Andres Cubas sent a ball to White from the midfield and the striker put a bouncing right-footed shot past the Rapids netminder and into the bottom of the net. White’s 23rd-minute goal — his team-leading seventh of the season — gave Vancouver a 2-0 cushion.
Colorado clawed a tally back 10 minutes later when Navarro dove over a mass of bodies inside the six-yard box and sent the ball up and over Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka.
A replay on the big screen at B.C. Place appeared to show the ball going in off Navarro’s forearm and referee Lorenzo Hernandez signalled that the video assistant referee would check the play. A review determined the goal would stand, cutting Vancouver’s lead to 2-1.
The Rapids pressed for an equalizer late in the first half and got a prime opportunity in injury time on a free kick from near the corner flag.
Dante Sealy stepped up to execute the set play but an extended bout of pushing and shoving forced him to pause. Once the two sides had been separated, Sealy sent the ball up and onto the top of the Vancouver net.
The Whitecaps took a 2-1 lead into the locker room after outshooting the Rapids 11-4 across the first half with a 5-2 edge in on-target shots.
Vancouver came close to regaining the two-goal lead in the 73rd minute when Caicedo sent a ball across the box to White, who slid, putting his shot just wide of the post.
Caicdeo, who came in off the bench for Sabaly in the 68th minute, got a breakaway in the 77th minute and steamed up the field before getting tripped up inside the penalty area. The Ecuadorean winger quickly popped up and sent a right-footed shot in past Steffen.
His celebration was short lived, though. The play went to VAR for a possible handball and, after a lengthy look, Hernandez announced the ball hit Caicedo’s elbow.
Caicedo made good in the 85th minute, slicing a pass to White to set him up near the penalty spot. White made quick use of the ball, sailing it in past Steffen to give Vancouver a 3-1 advantage.
Whitecaps centre back Ranko Veselinovic was in the lineup as a substitute for the first time since July 19, when he suffered a season-ending knee injury. … A sold-out crowd of 27,589 fans took in the game at B.C. Place. … Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter registered an assist on White’s second goal of the night for his 50th goal contribution (17 goals, 33 assists) with the Whitecaps.
The Whitecaps play their next five games on the road, starting with a visit to the L.A. Galaxy next Saturday. The Rapids will host USL Championship side Colorado Springs in U.S. Open Cup play on Wednesday before facing the Houston Dynamo in MLS action next Saturday.