The Vancouver Whitecaps quickly put their Canadian Championship disappointment behind them. All they needed was another trip to Utah.

Real Salt Lake were no match for the visiting Whitecaps who took all three points on the road by putting three goals by a struggling RSL defence that was once again without new signing Luc de Fougerolles, with the Canadian men’s national team defender still awaiting a work permit.

Brian White kickstarted Vancouver’s 3-0 win, breaking the deadlock before 10 minutes had passed on the referee’s watch. Thomas Müller doubled the Vancouver Whitecaps’ lead just 15 minutes later and Yadaly Diaby made it three for the visitors just after the hour mark to seal the Caps’ fourth straight win over RSL.

Diaby was one of several intriguing summer additions by the Whitecaps’ front office, and it’s clear from his four appearances why Axel Schuster and Jesper Sørensen thought he was the right piece to add to Vancouver’s attack with a long MLS Cup playoff run in mind.

The Guinea international was a constant threat and tried his luck for a brace late in the match. It never came but he left his mark on the night before being replaced by Bruno Caicedo in the 87th minute.

The Whitecaps have found the back of the net 56 times already this season. Only Inter Miami have bulged the old onion bag more. Whitecaps may have expected a few more on Saturday night, and RSL backers — and manager Pablo Mastroeni — certainly feared it.

It was White who got the party started in Utah just nine minutes into the match.

Oliver Larraz struck a perfect ball, which may have found the back of the net on its own had White not extended his foot to insure it hit the back of the net.

It was White’s 96th goal in a Whitecaps shirt, and 16th of the season — matching his goal total from last season.

Only Lionel Messi and FC Dallas’ Croatian star Petar Musa have scored more goals than White in MLS this season. The internationally retired Argentine has netted 19 times, while Musa has bagged 19 in a fantastic Dallas season.

Whitecaps superstar, Thomas Müller, doubled Vancouver’s edge in Utah exactly 15 minutes later, firing a rocket by RSL keeper Rafael Cabral after taking a perfect feed from Yadaly Diaby, who enjoyed an aggressively excited celebration with his German teammate.

There was an intriguing Canadian storyline coming into Saturday night in Utah, but World Cup centre-back Luc de Fougerolles is still unavailable and did not make his RSL debut.

The 20-year-old was previously linked with Vancouver, but surprisingly joined RSL on loan from Fulham on transfer deadline day. His first appearance has been delayed by the wait for his P-1 visa, and is missing a fourth straight RSL game as a result.

De Fougerolles should get the chance to play later this month, after being named in Jesse Marsch’s 26-man CanMNT squad to face Chile, Peru and the United States. Based on his play Saturday night, Jeevan Badwal proved to any doubters why he was also included in Marsch’s roster.

The Whitecaps midfielder was a constant midfield problem for Real Salt Lake, who struggled to contain the Caps all across the pitch, but particularly Badwal’s movement next to Larraz, as the young duo try to fill the void left by the departure of Sebastian Berhalter.

It was as complete a first 45 minute effort as Jesper Sørensen could’ve hoped for. The only concern was an injury to centre-back Ralph Priso, who Canadian fans — and CanMNT boss Jesse Marsch — will hope is fine for Canada’s upcoming friendlies. The 24-year-old was replaced at halftime by Mathias Laborda.

Edier Ocampo looked to have potentially suffered an injury with the last kick of the game. The Colombian was writhing in pain at the final whistle.

There is perhaps no greater advantage for a manager to have in MLS than to bring Ryan Gauld off the bench.

The Whitecaps’ Working Class MVP came into the match just after the hour mark, replacing Emmanuel Sabbi. The Scot immediately got to work and helped the Caps turn the screw before Diaby made it three. Gauld hoped to make it four with a late effort, but was denied by the bar in the dying minutes.

Gauld has rediscovered his form with two goals and two assists in his last four appearances and continues to sharpen his chemistry with Müller, while also taking some of the workload off the 37-year-old’s plate.

It was a very good time for the Whitecaps to visit. RSL are now winless in 12 straight MLS games and have a long list of injuries — to go along with important players that can work promotional video shoots but can’t secure work permits.

The Western Conference leading Vancouver Whitecaps have had a very mixed September, taking just four points from their last four MLS matches. Vancouver opened the month with a 3-1 home loss to St. Louis CITY SC before bouncing back with a 3-0 victory over the LA Galaxy. But that momentum did not last, as the Whitecaps fell 2-1 to Austin FC last weekend before Wednesday’s Canadian Championship semifinal loss in Montréal. CF Montréal’s 2-1 second-leg victory sent the Quebec club through 3-2 on aggregate and ended Vancouver’s four-year reign as Voyageurs Cup champions.

Vancouver remain atop the Western Conference on 49 points, although the gap tightened during a September stretch that has brought just one league victory. Houston, Dallas, San Jose and St. Louis all trail by no more than five points.

More to come.