VANCOUVER, BC \u2013 It was another rousing performance at BC Place on Sunday, as Vancouver Whitecaps FC put six past Minnesota United to maintain their perfect start to the MLS season.<\/p>\n
Sebastian Berhalter put in another dominant performance, while Brian White made club history.<\/p>\n
The ‘Caps nearly enjoyed a dream start inside two minutes when \u00c9dier Ocampo found AZ near the back post, but the winger couldn\u2019t keep his effort on target.<\/p>\n
However, the home side didn’t have to wait long for the breakthrough. After Jeevan Badwal was hauled down in the area, Berhalter stepped up to the spot and cooly sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 1-0 in the eighth minute.<\/p>\n
The lead was doubled just five minutes later. Berhalter turned provider, threading a ball down the right wing for Emmanuel Sabbi, who cut it back for an onrushing Brian White. The striker finished with a clinical first touch to make it 2-0.<\/p>\n
Badwal nearly added a third in the 20th minute after latching onto a stunning over-the-top ball from Berhalter, but his side-footed effort cannoned off the near post.<\/p>\n
The third goal eventually arrived in the 22nd minute when Berhalter whipped in a precise free-kick for Math\u00edas Laborda to redirect into the back of the net.<\/p>\n
Minnesota United briefly threatened in the 37th minute when Nectarios Triantis\u2019 first-time volley smashed against the far post, but Vancouver remained in total control.<\/p>\n
The Berhalter magic continued in the 42nd minute. The United States international picked out Sabbi in the channel, who then drilled a low shot across goal for his first tally of the season.<\/p>\n
\n Clinical Second Half<\/p>\n
Despite the four-goal cushion, Whitecaps FC refused to take their foot off the gas.<\/p>\n
In the 52nd minute, AZ drew a second penalty after being fouled in the box. White stepped up this time, dispatching the spot-kick to secure his 100th goal contribution in a Whitecaps shirt.<\/p>\n
At the other end, Yohei Takaoka preserved the clean sheet with a massive double save in the 58th minute, denying Kelvin Yeboah and Jefferson Diaz from close range.<\/p>\n
The depth of the squad was on full display late in the half. Sebastian Schonlau, making his MLS debut, nearly scored with a header in the 66th minute, while Cheikh Sabaly forced a fingertip save from Drake Callender after an unselfish pass from Badwal.<\/p>\n
Sabaly finally got his goal in the 75th minute, cutting inside from the right and firing home a Laborda cross despite Morris Duggan\u2019s desperate goal-line effort.<\/p>\n
Takaoka punctuated the performance in the 87th minute with a full-stretch save on a header from Minnesota to ensure the clean sheet remained intact.<\/p>\n
The ‘Caps now head to Spokane for the Second Leg of their Round of 16 Concacaf Champions Cup series against Seattle Sounders FC. Kickoff will be at 8 p.m. PT, live on OneSoccer, FuboTV, and TELUS Optik Channel 980.<\/p>\n