MLS capsules: Whitecaps move into first while Sporting KC, Timbers draw
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)—Octavio Rivero and Cristian Techera scored four minutes apart in the second half and the Vancouver Whitecaps beat the Colorado Rapids 2–0 on Wednesday night to move into first place overall in Major League Soccer.
Vancouver (15-10-3) pulled two points ahead of the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Rivero scored in the 73rd minute, heading home his 10th goal of the season off a ball over the top from Techera. Rivero tore off his jersey in celebration—a reaction that earned him a yellow card—before being mobbed by teammates.
Techera buried his sixth past a helpless Clint Irwin in the 77th.
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Colorado (8-10-9) had won three straight.
SPORTING KC 0, TIMBERS 0
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)—Goalkeeper Tim Melia fended off a flurry of Portland shots and Sporting Kansas City snapped a three-game losing streak with the draw.
Melia had a career-high seven saves for his seventh shutout of the season, and first since a 1–0 victory at Vancouver on July 12.
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Sporting KC (11-7-8) and Portland (11-9-8) are locked in a battle for playoff position, knotted in a three-way tie for fourth in the Western Conference with Seattle with 41 points apiece. Portland extended its home unbeaten streak to 10 games.
